Name : Dr. N Chaamwe

E-Mail : chimz@cbu.ac.zm

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Lecture OverviewAtoms and electronsAlloysresistanceOhms LawWhat is currentVoltageCapacitanceInductancePower Transformers

Atoms and electronsElectron theory states that all matter

is comprised of molecules, which in turn are comprised of atoms, which are again comprised of protons,

neutrons and electrons. A molecule is the smallest part of

matter which can exist by itself and contains one or more atoms.

Atoms and electronsIf you turn on a light switch for

example you will see the light bulb (globe) glow and emit light into the room.

So what caused this to happen? How does energy travel through

copper wires to light the bulb? How does energy travel through

space?

Atoms and electronsFor the light to glow requires

energy to find a path through the light switch,

through the copper wire and this movement is called electron flow.

It is also called current flow in electronics.

Atoms and electronsThe word matter includes copper,

wood, water, air....virtually everything. If we were able to take a piece of

matter such as a drop of water, divided it by two and kept dividing by two

until it couldn't be divided any further while it was still water we would eventually have a molecule of water.

Atoms and electronsA molecule, the smallest particle of

water comprises two atoms of Hydrogen and one atom of Oxygen - H2O.

An atom is also divisible - into protons and electrons.

Both are electrical particles and neither is divisible.

Electrons are the smallest and lightest and are said to be negatively charged.

Atoms and electronsProtons on the other hand are about 1800

times the mass of electrons and are positively charged.

Each are thought to have lines of forces (electric fields) surrounding them.

In theory, negative lines of force will not join other negative lines of force.

In fact they tend to repel each other. Similarly positive lines of force act in the same way.

An electric field emanating from a proton ...

The electric field between an electron and proton

Atoms and electronsThe fact that electrons repel

electrons and protons repel protons, but electrons and protons attract

one another follows the basic law of physics:

Like forces repel and unlike forces attract.

Atoms and electronsWhen an electron and proton are brought in

close proximity to one another it is the electron which moves

because the proton is 1800 times heavier. It is the electron which moves in electricity. Even though the electron is much smaller,

its field is quite strong negatively and is equal to the positive field of the proton.

Atoms and electronsIf the field strength around an

electron at a distance of 1,000,000th of a centimetre was a certain amount,

then the field strength around an electron at a distance of 2,000,000th of a centimetre will be 1/4 as much.

Atoms and electronsThis is because the field decreases inversely with the distance squared.

If an increase in one thing causes an increase in something else,

these two things are said to vary directly.

2,000,000 electrons on an object produce twice the negative charge than 1,000,000 electrons would.

Atoms and electronsSince the electric-field strength of an

electron varies inversely with the distance squared,

the field strength a centimetre away would be quite weak.

The fields surrounding protons and electrons are known as electrostatic fields.

"Static" means stationary or not moving.

Atoms and electronsWhen electrons are made to move, the

result is dynamic electricity. "Dynamic" means movement. To produce a movement of an electron

it is necessary to either have a negatively charged field "push it",

a positively charged field "pull it", or,

Atoms and electronsas normally occurs in an electric circuit, a

negative and positive charge (a pushing and pulling of forces).

There are more than one hundred different atoms or elements.

The simplest and lightest is Hydrogen. An atom of Hydrogen consists of one

electron whirling around one proton much like the moon revolving around the earth.

Atom of Hydrogen

Atoms and electronsThe next atom in terms of weight is

Helium (He) consisting two protons and two electrons.

The third atom is Lithium (Li) with three protons and three electrons and so it goes on.

Helium Atom

Atoms and electronsMost atoms have a nucleus

consisting of all the protons of the atom and also one or more neutrons.

The remainder of the electrons are whirling around the nucleus in different layers.

The first layer of electrons outside the nucleus can only accommodate two electrons.

Atoms and electronsIf the atom has three electrons then

two will be in the first layer and the third will be in the next layer.

The second layer is completely filled when eight electrons are whirling around it.

The third is filled when eighteen electrons are whirling around.

Carbon Atom

Atoms and electronsThe electrons in an element of a large

atomic number are grouped into rings having a definite number of electrons.

The only atoms in which these rings are completely filled are those of inert gaseous elements such as Helium, Neon, Argon, Krypton, Xenon and Radon.

Atoms and electronsAll the other elements have one or

more uncompleted rings of electrons. Some of the electrons in the outer

orbit of atoms such as copper or silver can be easily dislodged.

These electrons travel out into the wide open spaces between the atoms and molecules and may be termed free electrons

Free electrons

Atoms and electronsIt is the ability of these electrons to

drift from atom to atom which makes electric current possible.

Other electrons will resist dislodgement and are called bound electrons.

bound electrons