Click on the picture and explore! You will get lots of fun!
The picture above shows an atom, but what is an electron?
Electrons are the negatively
charged particles of
atom. Together, all of the
electrons of an atom create a
negative charge that balances the
positive charge of the protons in the atomic nucleus. Electrons are extremely
small compared to all of the other parts of the atom. The mass
of an electron is almost 1,000 times smaller than the mass of a proton.
Power Up!
Electrons are very important in the world of electronics. The
very small particles can stream through wires and circuits, creating currents of
electricity. The electrons move from negatively charged parts
to positively charged ones. The negatively charged pieces of any circuit have
extra electrons, while the positively charged pieces want more electrons. The
electrons then jump from one area to another. When the electrons move, the
current can
flow through the system.
Now, take a
quiz!