Electrons – The electron is an extremely small particle, in fact it is considered to be a point particle with no understood structure. It carries a unit negative charge and can experience electrostatic, magnetic and gravimetric forces. In the simple Bohr atom the electrons are considered to spin around the positively charged nucleus where the electrostatic force between the positive nucleus and the negative electron is balanced by the centrifugal force of the rotating electron. However, the electron is also considered to have wave properties where the wave length of the electron orbiting the nucleus has an integral number that allows the electron to act as a standing wave round the nucleus. Thus, the electron can have different ‘orbits’ around the nucleus where the locus of the ‘orbit’ is an exact number of wavelengths. Consequently, the energy of the electron in each of its possible ‘orbits’ is defined by its wavelength. The electron has an extremely small mass, 9.11 x 10^-28 g, a charge of 1.6 x 10^-19 C and a spin of 1/2. An electric current is considered to be a flow of electrons through a conductor.

Further Information on this Topic can be found in the books of R.P.W. Scott by following the listed links