Difference between revisions of "Electricity"
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It is an arrangement of electrons and protons as basic particles of electricity that determines the electrical characteristics of substances. Although all matter has protons and electrons, most materials do not exhibit any evidence of electricity, because the number of protons and electrons are equal. The opposite electrical forces cancel each other out, and render materials like paper electrically neutral. In order to use electricity to do work, the protons and electrons must be separated. A battery can do electrical work because a chemical process separates electric charges to create an excess of of electrons at its negative terminal and conversely, an excess of protons at its positive terminal. With separate and opposite charges at two terminals, electric energy can be supplied to a circuit connected to the battery. | It is an arrangement of electrons and protons as basic particles of electricity that determines the electrical characteristics of substances. Although all matter has protons and electrons, most materials do not exhibit any evidence of electricity, because the number of protons and electrons are equal. The opposite electrical forces cancel each other out, and render materials like paper electrically neutral. In order to use electricity to do work, the protons and electrons must be separated. A battery can do electrical work because a chemical process separates electric charges to create an excess of of electrons at its negative terminal and conversely, an excess of protons at its positive terminal. With separate and opposite charges at two terminals, electric energy can be supplied to a circuit connected to the battery. | ||
| − | Although there are many possible ways protons and electrons could group themselves, they assemble in specific combinations that result in stable arrangement. Each stable arrangement of protons, [[neutron]]s and electrons makes one particular kind of atom, an [[element]]. | + | Although there are many possible ways protons and electrons could group themselves, they assemble in specific combinations that result in stable arrangement. Each stable arrangement of protons, [[neutron]]s and electrons makes one particular kind of atom, an [[element]]. [[Hydrogen]] consists of one proton and one electron; the proton is the the central mass called the [[nucleus]] and the electron outside. The proton in the nucleus gives hydrogen its mass and stability because a proton is 1840 times heavier than an electron. |
Revision as of 20:08, March 15, 2007
Electricity is an invisible force that can produce heat, light, motion and many other physical effects. The force is an attraction or repulsion between electrical charges. More specifically, electricity can be explained in terms of electrical charge, current, voltage, and resistance. the corresponding electrical units are the coulomb for measuring electrical charge, the ampere for measuring current, the volt for potential difference, and the ohm for resistance. A basic element of electricity is the electric circuit. A circuit is a closed path that allows for movement of charges. Current is the name given to the movement of charges. The study of electricity involves the behavior of charges, current and voltage with the components that make up the electrical circuit.
Polarity
All materials that are known contain two basic components of electric charge: the proton and the electron. The proton is a basic particle with positive polarity, and the electron is the smallest amount of electric charge having negative polarity. It is an arrangement of electrons and protons as basic particles of electricity that determines the electrical characteristics of substances. Although all matter has protons and electrons, most materials do not exhibit any evidence of electricity, because the number of protons and electrons are equal. The opposite electrical forces cancel each other out, and render materials like paper electrically neutral. In order to use electricity to do work, the protons and electrons must be separated. A battery can do electrical work because a chemical process separates electric charges to create an excess of of electrons at its negative terminal and conversely, an excess of protons at its positive terminal. With separate and opposite charges at two terminals, electric energy can be supplied to a circuit connected to the battery.
Although there are many possible ways protons and electrons could group themselves, they assemble in specific combinations that result in stable arrangement. Each stable arrangement of protons, neutrons and electrons makes one particular kind of atom, an element. Hydrogen consists of one proton and one electron; the proton is the the central mass called the nucleus and the electron outside. The proton in the nucleus gives hydrogen its mass and stability because a proton is 1840 times heavier than an electron.
