Electron

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An electron is a extremely tiny matter made up of negative charge. Its symbol is e⁻ or β^-, and it was discovered by J. J. Thomson in 1897.

An electron is a subatomic particle, particle smaller than an atom. Every atom is made of some electrons that surround the nucleus of the atom, e.g. Hydrogen has 1 electron in outermost shell. An electron can also be separated from any atom through Ionization energy to overcome its binding energy. It is believed to be an elementary particle (made of lepton, a point like particle) because it cannot be broken down into anything smaller.^[1] Its electric charge is negative.^[2] Electrons have very little mass (approx 9.1093837 x 10^-31 kgs). They may move almost at the speed of light, for instance, as beta particles, and in the inner electron shells of elements with a large atomic number. ^[3]

Electrons take part in gravitational, electromagnetic and weak interactions.^[4] The electromagnetic force is strongest in common situations. Electrons repel (push apart) from each other because of their same type of negative charges. Electrons are attracted to protons because they have opposite electric charge. An electron has an electric field, which describes these forces. The electricity that powers televisions, motors, mobile phones or basically foundation of electricity is actually many electrons continuously pushed through, using voltage supply, wires or other conductors.^[5]

1. ↑ Purcell, Edward M. 1985. Electricity and Magnetism. Berkeley Physics Course Volume 2. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-004908-4.
2. ↑ "JERRY COFF". Retrieved 10 September 2010.
3. ↑ US Dept. of Energy: [1] Archived 2010-05-30 at the Wayback Machine
4. ↑ Anastopoulos, Charis 2008. Particle or Wave: the evolution of the concept of matter in modern physics. Princeton University Press. pp261–262. ISBN 0691135126. https://books.google.com/books?id=rDEvQZhpltEC&pg=PA261
5. ↑ "The lights turn on very quickly when I flip the switch. Just how fast does electricity flow in a wire? | Science Guys | Union University, a Christian College in Tennessee". www.uu.edu. Retrieved 2025-04-19.