Atoms and electrical charge

Atoms are the building blocks of all matter. They are made up of
protons, neutrons, and electrons. Every electron has a small negative
(-) charge. The proton has the same amount of charge except that it is
the opposite, positive (+) charge. Neutrons are electrically neutral
and have no charge. The protons and neutrons are located in the center
of atoms forming what is called the nucleus and the electrons revolve
around them.


It is very important to know that particles of
like charges will repel and unlike charges will attract. For example,
two protons or two electrons will repel each other. However, a proton
and a electron will attract. That is how the electrons are held inside
the atom. The attraction between the electrons and protons keeps the
electrons in orbit much like the gravitational attraction between the
sun and its planets.

Electricity is the flow of electrons so it is necessary to
measure the charge. The basic unit for measuring charge is the coulomb
or the letter C. 1 coulomb is equal to the charge of
6,250,000,000,000,000,000 electrons!!!



1C = 6.25x10^18 electrons