Unit 1

Atomic Structure
 Unit 1 Atomic Structure
Objectives:

• List the three major parts of an atom.

• State the law of charges.
• Discuss the law of centripetal force.
• Discuss the differences between
semiconductors and insulators.
 Unit 1 Atomic Structure
History

The Greeks were the first to discover

electricity 2500 years ago. The Greeks
called amber elektron.

About 300 years ago Charles DuFay

studied the force of repulsion and
attraction using a glass rod.
Unit 1 Atomic Structure

List of charged materials.

 Unit 1 Atomic Structure

Unlike charges attract and like charges repel.

 Unit 1 Atomic Structure
Atoms

• The atom is the basic building block of the

universe.
• An element is a substance that cannot be
chemically divided into a simpler substance.
• The principal parts of an atom are the
electron, neutron, and proton.
 Unit 1 Atomic Structure
Atomic Theory
• An element is composed of only one type of
atom.
• The atomic number of an element is the same
as the number of protons in the nucleus.
• The Periodic Table of Elements lists all the
types of atoms or elements known to mankind.
• A molecule is the result of the joining of two or
more different types of atoms.
Unit 1 Atomic Structure

Water can exist in three states.

Table of elements.
 Unit 1 Atomic Structure

The three principal parts of an atom are the

electron, the neutron, and the proton.
 Unit 1 Atomic Structure
• The electron has a
negative charge and
orbits the nucleus.
• Protons have a positive
charge.
• Neutrons have no charge
and combine with the
protons to form the
nucleus.
 Unit 1 Atomic Structure
Protons have a positive
charge.

Electrons have a
negative charge.
Unit 1 Atomic Structure
The Law of Charges
Opposite charges attract!
Unit 1 Atomic Structure
The Law of Charges
Like charges repel.
 Unit 1 Atomic Structure
Bohr’s model of the
atom proposed that
electrons orbit the
nucleus in much the
same way that
planets orbit the sun.
 Unit 1 Atomic Structure

Electrons form orbits or shells that surround the

nucleus.
 Unit 1 Atomic Structure

Electrons orbit the nucleus in a circular fashion.

 Unit 1 Atomic Structure

Valence electrons are located in the outer orbit of

an atom.
 Unit 1 Atomic Structure

A copper atom contains 29 electrons and has one

valence electron.
 Unit 1 Atomic Structure
Electron Flow

• Electricity is the flow of electrons.

• This happens when a free electron knocks
another electron free out of its orbit.
• The striking electron settles into a new
orbit.
• This process repeated many times creates
electrical flow.
 Unit 1 Atomic Structure

An electron of one atom knocks an electron of

another atom out of orbit and takes its place.
 Unit 1 Atomic Structure

The energy of the cue ball is transferred to the ball

being struck.
 Unit 1 Atomic Structure

The energy of the striking electron is divided.

 Unit 1 Atomic Structure

The energy of the cue ball is divided between the

other two balls.
 Unit 1 Atomic Structure

The energy of the striking electron is divided among

the eight electrons.
 Unit 1 Atomic Structure
Semiconductors

• Semiconductors are materials that are

neither good conductors nor good
insulators.
• They contain four valence electrons.
• When heated, their resistance decreases.
• Two common materials are silicon and
germanium.
 Unit 1 Atomic Structure

Semiconductors contain four valence electrons.

 Unit 1 Atomic Structure

Molecules are formed when atoms are joined

together.
 Unit 1 Atomic Structure
There are six basic methods for producing
electricity:
1. magnetism
2. chemical action
3. pressure
4. heat
5. friction
6. light
 Unit 1 Atomic Structure
There are five basic effects electricity can
cause:
1. magnetism
2. chemical reactions
3. pressure
4. heat
5. light
Unit 1 Atomic Structure

Producing sound with electricity.

 Unit 1 Atomic Structure
Insulators

• Insulators resist the flow of electricity.

• They contain seven or eight valence
electrons.
• Examples of insulators are: rubber, plastic,
glass, and wood.
 Unit 1 Atomic Structure
Review:

1. The atom is the smallest part of an

element.
2. The three basic parts of an atom are the
proton, electron, and neutron.
3. Protons have a positive charge, electrons a
negative charge, and neutrons no charge.
 Unit 1 Atomic Structure
Review:

4. Valence electrons are located in the outer

orbit of an atom.
5. Insulators are materials that do not
provide an easy path for electron flow.
6. Insulators are made from materials
containing seven or eight valence
electrons.
 Unit 1 Atomic Structure
Review:

7. Semiconductors contain four valence

electrons.
8. Molecules are formed by joining atoms
together.
9. Semiconductors are materials that are
neither good conductors nor good
insulators.
 Unit 1 Atomic Structure
Review:

10. Six basic methods for producing

electricity are magnetism, chemical
action, light, heat, pressure, and friction.
11. Five basic effects that can be caused by
electricity are magnetism, chemical
reactions, light, heat ,and pressure.
 Unit 1 Atomic Structure
Review:

12. The law of charges states that like

charges repel and opposite charges
attract.