How are atoms related to electricity?
The fundamental components of atoms are neutrons, protons and electrons, the latter two of which carry a positive and negative electrical charge, respectively. This property has become a major part of modern life through the development of technologies that utilize electric fields.Electricity DefinedFree electrons and protons create electricity, which is either positively or negatively charged. Electricity results from the flow of these particles, which induces an electric field.LightningLightning strikes are an example of natural electricity in action. Lightning is created through ionization of the atmosphere, which creates a static charge that discharges into the ground or between clouds.Aurora Borealis and Aurora AustralisThe auroras visible in the northern and southern latitudes are caused in part by interactions of electrically charged particles with the magnetic field of Earth.Electricity in BiologyThe firing of neurons in the brain is an example of a biological discharge of elec
“Electricity” is a rather vague word and includes electric current and electric fields. Atoms are electrically neutral. When an electron is added to or removed from an atom, that atom is now an electrically charged ion. Electric current is the flow of electrons, either by themselves thru an empty space or, more commonly, thru a material which is of course made of atoms. When doing this they must interact with the atoms in some way, usually by momentarily becoming part of each atom in turn. An electric field occupies a volume of space, near any electrically charged object, and exerts a force on any electrically charged object within that space.
