All the effects of electricity can be explained and predicted by assuming the existence of a tiny particle called the " electron . " Using this " electron theory , " scientists have been able to make predictions and discoveries which seemed impossible only a few years ago . The electron theory not only is the basis of design for all electrical and electronic equipment , it explains chemical action and allows chemists to predict and make new chemicals , such as the synthetic " wonder drugs .
" Since assuming that the electron exists has led to so many important dis- coveries in electricity electronics , chemistry and atomic physics , we can safely assume that the electron really exists . All electrical and electronic equipment has been designed using the electron theory . Since the electron theory has always worked for everyone , it will always work for you . Your entire study of electricity will be based upon the electron theory .
The electron theory assumes that all electrical and electronic effects are du to the movement of electrons from place to place or that there are too many or too few electrons in a particular place .
You have heard that electricity is the action of electrons in moving from point to point , or the excess or lack of electrons in a material . Before working with electricity , you will want to know exactly what an electron is and what causes it to move in a material . In order for electrons to move , some form of energy must be converted into electricity .
Six forms of en- ergy can be used and each may be considered to be a separate source of electricity . However , before studying the kinds of energy which can cause an electron to move , you first must find out what an electron is . Because the electron is one part of an atom , you will need to know something about the atomic structure of matter .
The Breakdown of Matter:- You have heard that electrons are tiny particles of electricity , but you may not have a very clear idea of the part electrons play in making up all the materials around us . You can find out about the electron by carefully ex- amining the composition of any ordinary material - say a drop of water . If you take this drop of water and divide it into two drops , divide one of these two drops into two smaller drops and repeat this process a few thou- sand times , you will have a very tiny drop of water . This tiny drop will be so small that you will need the best microscope made today in order to see it .
Now if you take this tiny drop of water and try to divide it in half any further , you will not be able to see it in your microscope . Imagine that you have available a super microscope which will magnify many times as much as any microscope presently existing . This microscope can give you any magnification you want , so you can put your tiny drop of water under it and proceed to divide it into smaller and smaller droplets .
50 As the droplet of water is divided into smaller and smaller droplets , these tiny droplets will still have all the chemical characteristics of water . However , you eventually will have a droplet so small that any further division will cause it to lose the chemical characteristics of water . This last bit of water is called a " molecule . " If you examine the water molecule under high magnification , you will see that it is composed of three parts closely bonded together.
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