Section I Electricity - Charged Particles

Who first dubbed the 'electric force' and in what year?

William Gilbert, 1600

What is the Greek word for amber?

elektron

What device can store electricity and deliver a shock when touched?

Leyden jar

Which four elements were historically believed to compose all matter?

Earth, air, fire, and water

In philosophy, what does the term 'element' mean?

A fundamental, indivisible part; cannot be reduced further

What is the Periodic Table?

A table of all different kinds of atoms we call elements

What is at the center of most atoms?

The nucleus

What particles are in the nucleus?

Protons and neutrons

What particles orbit the nucleus?

Electrons

In what units is mass measured?

Kilograms (kg)

What is mass sometimes described as a resistance to change in motion?

Inertia

An element is defined by the number of which subatomic particle?

Protons

Which subatomic particles are primarily involved in electricity?

Electrons

Do neutrons play a role in electricity?

No

How do the charges of protons and electrons compare?

They have the same magnitude of charge but opposite signs (positive for protons, negative for electrons)

What happens when opposite charges are brought near each other?

They attract

What happens when like charges come near each other?

They repel

Why is electricity mainly about electron movement rather than proton movement?

Because electrons are much lighter and move more easily

Why do electrons orbit the nucleus?

Opposite charges attract; electrons are attracted to protons and orbit around them

What does Newton's first law say about motion?

An object will continue moving at constant velocity unless acted on by a net external force (inertia)

What does Newton's second law relate to force and acceleration?

F = ma; acceleration increases with force and decreases with mass

What does Newton's third law state?

Every action has an equal and opposite reaction

Why don't the Earth and the Sun accelerate equally toward one another under gravity?

The Sun's mass is vastly greater; Earth's acceleration is greater per unit mass, but the Sun's motion is negligible

If the same force acts on two objects with different masses, how do their accelerations compare?

The lighter object accelerates more

Are protons and neutrons fundamental particles?

Protons and neutrons are made of quarks; for electricity we usually treat protons as fundamental and electrons as fundamental

What fundamental particles are protons and neutrons made of?

Quarks

How can we visualize an atom?

As a miniature solar system with a nucleus at the center and electrons orbiting

Do most atoms have zero total charge?

Yes, they typically have the same number of protons and electrons, giving a net zero charge

Where is the nucleus located in an atom?

At the center of the atom

Where is most of an atom's mass located?

In the nucleus (protons and neutrons)

Where do electrons orbit relative to the nucleus?

Outside the nucleus, orbiting around it

What is the charge of a proton?

Positive

What is the charge of an electron?

Negative

What is the charge of a neutron?

Neutral (zero