Atoms and Static Electricity
The Atom:
Static Electricity:
What is an atom?
An atom a fundamental piece of matter (matter is anything that
can be touched physically.) Everything in the universe (except
energy) is made of matter, and, so, everything in the universe is
made of atoms.
An atom itself is made up of three tiny kinds of particles called
subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons. The protons
and the neutrons make up the center of the atom called the nucleus
and the electrons fly around above the nucleus in a small cloud. The
electrons carry a negative charge and the protons carry a positive
charge. In a normal (neutral) atom the number of protons and the
number of electrons are equal. Often, but not always, the number of
neutrons is the same, too.
Atoms
Protons, Neutrons and Electrons
Protons, Neutrons and Electrons
Definitions
Proton: A proton is a charged elementary particle that can exist freely or an atomic
nucleus.
Electron: Electrons are the subatomic particles that orbit the nucleus of an atom. They
are generally negative in charge and are much smaller than the nucleus of the atom.
Neutron: A neutron is a subatomic particle; it is one of the building blocks of the atom.
As such, it is found in the nucleus of an atom.
Atom: An atom is a particle of matter that uniquely defines a chemical element. An
atom consists of a central nucleus that is usually surrounded by one or more electrons.
Each electron is negatively charged. The nucleus is positively charged, and contains
one or more relatively heavy particles known as protons and neutrons.
Class Activity: Let’s Make Atoms!
• Diagram 1:
Diagram 2: