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184_notes:charge_and_matter [2021/01/24 23:47] – bartonmo | 184_notes:charge_and_matter [2021/01/25 00:06] (current) – bartonmo | ||
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- | Most matter is //neutral//, which means that the net charge (or sum of all the charges) of most atoms is zero. Since the charge of a proton is +1.602⋅10−19 C and the charge of an electron is −1.602⋅10−19 C (and the charge of a neutron is 0 C), this tells us that the number of protons in a neutral atom has to equal the number of electrons. //__Notice that if an object is neutral, it does not mean that the object has zero charge. It means that the amount of positive charge in the atom is equal to the amount of negative charge in the atom, so the **net** charge is zero.__// | + | **Most matter is neutral, which means that the net charge (or sum of all the charges) of most atoms is zero.** Since the charge of a proton is +1.602⋅10−19 C and the charge of an electron is −1.602⋅10−19 C (and the charge of a neutron is 0 C), this tells us that the number of protons in a neutral atom has to equal the number of electrons. //__Notice that if an object is neutral, it does not mean that the object has zero charge. It means that the amount of positive charge in the atom is equal to the amount of negative charge in the atom, so the **net** charge is zero.__// |
- | If an object is // | + | **If an object is // |
We can use this model of the atom (dense positive nucleus with an electron cloud) then to talk about how we get charged objects (charging/ | We can use this model of the atom (dense positive nucleus with an electron cloud) then to talk about how we get charged objects (charging/ | ||
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If we start with a neutral atom by itself, we know that there will be a positive nucleus with a negative, circular electron cloud around it. The electron cloud is circular (spherical in 3D) because it is equally likely that the electrons are anywhere around the nucleus (shown in Figure 2a/ | If we start with a neutral atom by itself, we know that there will be a positive nucleus with a negative, circular electron cloud around it. The electron cloud is circular (spherical in 3D) because it is equally likely that the electrons are anywhere around the nucleus (shown in Figure 2a/ | ||
- | **What would change about our atom if we put a charge next to a neutral atom?** | + | //What would change about our atom if we put a charge next to a neutral atom?// |
The electrons cannot leave their nucleus (unless [[https:// | The electrons cannot leave their nucleus (unless [[https:// | ||
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=== Insulators === | === Insulators === | ||
- | An insulator is an object or material where the electrons are tightly bound to the nucleus. This means that the electrons in an insulator can only move very small amounts and must stay close to their nuclei. | + | An insulator is an object or material where the electrons are tightly bound to the nucleus. This means that the electrons in an insulator can only move very small amounts and must stay close to their nuclei. **Charges cannot move freely through an insulator.** Common insulators include: plastic, glass, rubber, paper, wood, etc. |
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=== Conductors === | === Conductors === | ||
- | //**A conductor is an object or material where charged particles can move easily through the material.**// In some conductors (like salt water), there are charged ions (Na+ and Cl−) that can travel relatively freely through the material (water). In other conductors, like metals, the inner electrons of every atom are tightly bound to the nucleus, but the outer electrons (or [[https:// | + | **A conductor is an object or material where charged particles can move easily through the material.** In some conductors (like salt water), there are charged ions (Na+ and Cl−) that can travel relatively freely through the material (water). In other conductors, like metals, the inner electrons of every atom are tightly bound to the nucleus, but the outer electrons (or [[https:// |
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When you put a positive charge next to a conductor (shown in the figure to the left), the electrons in the electron sea are attracted to the surface of the metal closest to the positive charge. This leaves the opposite surface with a positive charge because those atoms now look like they are missing an electron. Since the positive charges are much further away from the positive charge than the negative charges, the attraction from the conductor is much stronger than the repulsion. This means that the positive charge is strongly attracted to the metal even though the metal is overall neutral. | When you put a positive charge next to a conductor (shown in the figure to the left), the electrons in the electron sea are attracted to the surface of the metal closest to the positive charge. This leaves the opposite surface with a positive charge because those atoms now look like they are missing an electron. Since the positive charges are much further away from the positive charge than the negative charges, the attraction from the conductor is much stronger than the repulsion. This means that the positive charge is strongly attracted to the metal even though the metal is overall neutral. | ||
- | **Again, the electrons are what moves in both cases.** | + | //Again, the electrons are what moves in both cases.// |
You might have experienced this effect when you were working with the tape challenge in the first class. Your body is mostly composed of salt water, which is a very good conductor. No matter what kind of charge was on your tape, you may have observed that it was always attracted to your hand, sometimes more than it was to the other piece of tape. This microscopic model of conductors would explain why the tape was always attracted to your hand. | You might have experienced this effect when you were working with the tape challenge in the first class. Your body is mostly composed of salt water, which is a very good conductor. No matter what kind of charge was on your tape, you may have observed that it was always attracted to your hand, sometimes more than it was to the other piece of tape. This microscopic model of conductors would explain why the tape was always attracted to your hand. |