ELECTRON THEORY

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the lesson the trainees should be able to:
Define and differentiate the following:

Atom
Element
Molecule
Compound

Discuss Atomic structure of conductor, insulator and

semiconductor
Discuss the significance of valence electrons.
Explain ionization process.
Explain and discuss different sources of Electricity
1

Introduction
Electricity is a fundamental entity of
nature.
It consists mainly of negatively and
positively charged particles commonly
found in the atom.
Through man-made influence and
natural phenomena, it is possible to
observe how the electron (negatively
charged) and the proton (positively
charged) interact magnetically.
2

The Theory
Matter is anything that has weight
and occupies space.
Examples of matter are air, water,
automobiles, clothing, and even our
own bodies.
Matter can be found in any one of
three states: solid, liquid, and
gaseous.
3

 Any particle that is a chemical

combination of two or more atoms is
a molecule.
In a compound, the molecule is the
smallest particle that has all the
characteristics of that compound.
MATTER

MOLECULES

 Water, for example, is a compound

made up of two atoms of hydrogen
and one atom of oxygen.
It maybe chemically or electrically
divided into its separate atoms,
but it cannot be divided by
physical means.

An atom is the smallest part into

which an element can be divided.
Elements are the basic building
blocks of all matter. Some
common elements include silver,
copper, gold, tin, hydrogen and
oxygen
MATTER

MOLECULE

ATOM

All atom consist of two basic parts: a

body at the center of the atom,
called Nucleus, and electron orbiting
around the nucleus.
Atoms may have more than one
orbiting electron, but each atom
contains only one nucleus
MATTER

MOLECULE

ATOM

Elements and
Compounds

An element is a substance that cannot be

reduced to a simpler substance by
chemical means.
Examples are iron, gold, silver, copper, and
oxygen.
All substances are composed of one or
more of these elements.
When two or more elements are chemically
combined, the resulting substance is a
compound.
8

Elements and
Compounds

A compound is a chemical
combination of elements that can
be separated by chemical but not
by physical means.
Examples of common compounds
are water (hydrogen and oxygen)
and table salt (sodium and
chlorine).
9

REMEMBER
One rule that is very prevalent in all forms
of electricity, and also magnetism, is that
like charges, or poles, repel and unlike
charges, poles, will attract.

--

--

--

+
10

Composition of Atoms
Atoms are composed of :
Nucleus at the center

11

Composition of Atoms
Atoms are composed of :
Nucleus at the center which consists of
protons (+) charge

+ +
PROTONS

12

Composition of Atoms
Atoms are composed of :
Nucleus at the center which consists of
protons (+) charge and neutrons which has
no charge.

+ +

NEUTRONS
13

Composition of Atoms
Atoms are composed of :
Nucleus at the center which consists of
protons (+) charge and neutrons which has
no charge.
Electrons orbiting the nucleus
--

--

ELECTRONS

+ +

14

Electron
The electron is a fundamental sub-atomic
particle which carries a negative electric charge
Within an atom the electrons surround the
nucleus of protons and neutrons in an electron
configuration.
In our study of electricity, we are particularly
interested in the electrons in the outermost shell
called valence electron.
The movement of valence electrons from one
atom to another atom produces electric current .
15

Periodic Table of Elements

For any element:

Number of Protons = Atomic Number
Number of Electrons = Number of Protons = Atomic Number
Number of Neutrons = Mass Number - Atomic Number
16

Valence Electron
INSULATOR

These are the electrons in the

outermost
shell
which
are
knocked or forced out to form a
flow of electricity.
The maximum number of valence
electrons is 8.
The larger the number of
valence electrons, the tighter
they are held in the atom, this
is the property of an insulator.
Examples of insulators are
plastic, rubber, wood, glass
17

Valence Electron
CONDUCTOR

A material that contain atoms with

only 1 or 2 valence electrons is
said to have unstable atoms
these materials are conductors.
Silver, copper, gold and aluminum
all have one valence electron and
are good conductors of electricity.
The flow of electricity is formed in
these conductors when a stray
electron bumps into the valence
electron of an atom knocking it
out of orbit.
18

Valence Electron
A material that is neither a
SEMICONDUCTOR conductor or an insulator is called a
semiconductor.
A semiconductor will have 4
valence electrons and as they are
heated they conduct more
electricity.
The main semiconductor materials
used are silicon and germanium.
A pure semiconductor material
cannot be used to construct a
device, so it is mixed or 'doped'
with an impurity.
If water was absolutely pure, with
no impurities, it would be an
insulator.
19
SEMICONDUCTOR

Ionization
The process by which an atom loses or gains
electrons.

20

Positive Ion
--

CLICK THE
MOUSE
ONCE TO
IONIZE THIS
COPPER
ATOM.

--

---

--

Cu

---

+29

--

---

---

--

---

--

--

---

--

--

--

---

--

--

--

---

Positive ion is when an atom loses an electron.

Example : Copper = 29 protons 28 electrons = Cu+ ion21

Negative Ion
--

CLICK THE
MOUSE
ONCE TO
IONIZE THIS
COPPER
ATOM.

----

--

--

--

---

--

--

--

+ 29

--

--

---

--

---

--

---

---

Cu

--

--

--

---

--

Negative ion is when an atom gains an electron.

Example : Copper = 29 protons 30 electrons = Cu ion
22

Motion of electrons in a
conductor
NO APPLIED FORCE

WITH APPLIED FORCE

(POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE)

By applying energy to a conductor, the free electrons

23
will be pushed in a particular direction.

Electromotive Force
Is the measure of push on each electron which
makes the electron move.
Emf is the potential difference, or voltage,
between the terminals of a source of electricity.
Electromotive force is usually measured in volts .
The symbol for volts is V.

6 V.
e

e
E
24

Voltage
The term potential difference and voltage are often
used interchangeably to mean the push, thus
you may see the term electromotive force (EMF)
When writing voltages in electrical formulas, the
letter E is used to symbolize voltage or potential
difference, while the letter V is more commonly
used to abbreviate the unit of voltage on volts.
Potential difference always involve two points. If a
potential difference exist between two points and a
conductor is placed between them, current will
flow.
25

Sources of Electricity

26

Sources of Electricity
Chemical energy
Voltage is produced by chemical reaction in a
battery cell.

27

Sources of Electricity
Electromagnetism
Voltage is produced in a conductor when the
conductor moves through a magnetic field, or a
magnetic field moves through the conductor so
that the magnetic lines of force of the field are
cut.

28

Sources of Electricity
Light (photoelectricity)
Voltage is produced by light striking
photosensitive (light sensitive) substances.

29

Sources of Electricity
Pressure (piezoelectricity)
Voltage is produced by squeezing crystals of
certain substances.

30

Sources of Electricity
Pressure (piezoelectricity)
Voltage is produced by squeezing crystals of
certain substances.

31

Sources of Electricity
Heat (thermoelectricity)
Voltage is produced by heating the joint (junction)
where two unlike metals are joined.

32

VOLTAGE OUTPUTS OF
SOURCES OF ELECTRICITY
1.Battery - Direct Current DC
2.Generators - Alternating Current
AC
3.Solar Cell Photovoltaic (PV) DC
4.Piezoelectric DC
5.Thermoelectric - DC
33

Electron Current Flow

If a voltage exists across a complete
conducting path, or a circuit, electrons
flow in this circuit from low to high
potential.
This flow of electrons is given the name
electron current.
- - - _

Battery

34

Conventional Current Flow

It is the reverse of electron flow.
It is the flow of positive charges from high
to low potential.

+
+

Battery

35

Current
It is the movement of electrons in a particular
direction as pushed by an electromotive force.
Movement of electrons = Current
The symbol for current is I
The strength of current is measured in
Amperes represented by A or Amps.
A current flowing in a single direction is called
a direct current (d.c.)
When the direction of flow of current is
continually reversing, it is called an alternating
current (a.c.)
36

Closed or Complete Circuit

Current can only flow in a closed circuit

37

Direct Current
Is a steady current flowing in a single
direction
e e

e
+

Battery

38

Direct Current (DC) Voltage

The DC voltage means that the polarity of
the voltage never changes, the positive
terminal always has positive voltage and
the negative terminal always has negative
voltage.Output of the positive battery terminal
with respect to its negative terminal

39

Alternating Current
Is when the direction of flow of current is
continually reversing

A.C. Generator

40

Alternating Current (AC)

Voltage
Alternating current (AC) is current derived from a
voltage which is continuously varying.
The mains voltage being fed to our house is 220
volts AC.
The voltage is derived from a generator at the
power station which is basically a coil of wire
being rotated within a large magnet, this action
causes the lines of flux in the magnet to be cut,
inducing a voltage into the coil of wire.

41

 In modern ships the main supply is

usually A.C. but D.C. has many uses.

42

Summary

Matter is anything that has weight and takes up space.

All matter is made up of molecules.
All Molecules are made up of Atoms.
Atoms are made up of Protons and Neutrons in a
nucleus with electrons forming shells around them
much like the solar system.
Electrons have a negative charge, Protons have a
positive charge, and Neutron has no charge.
Electrons can be forced to move from one atom to the
next and this is accomplished using electromotive
force.
This movement of electrons is electrical current.
43

PROPERTIES OF
CRYSTAL
Some substances, when in solid state, will have a
molecular structure termed crystalline
A crystalline structure is one in which the atoms
or molecules take up precise positions in a
geometric form of lattice
The structure of a solid substances which do not
have a symmetric arrangement of their atoms or
molecules is termed amorphous
Some crystalline substances the imperfections in
the molecular structure will confer additional
properties on the materials, such as
luminescence, chemical effects or electrical
effects

 Crystals of substances
which exhibit electrical
properties due to
imperfections in their
molecular structure are
termed semiconductor
Examples of
semiconductors are:
Germanium, Silicon
One important electrical
property of all
semiconductors such as
Ge & Si is that a reduction
in resistance with
increase in temperature
are said to have a
negative temperature
coefficient.

Covalent bond- Bonding in

which atoms share electrons

Characteristics of a semiconductor materials

Under normal conditions, semiconductors

cannot be classified as conductors or
insulators.
A semiconductor crystal is at some
temperature above absolute zero there will be:
some level of internal energy due to the
normal molecular motion (vibrations) within
the crystal lattice structure.
a number of free electrons in the crystal lattice
moving randomly through it and acting as
charge carrier

Characteristics of a semiconductor materials

Under certain imposed conditions

semiconductors can behave as conductors
or insulators
At the absolute zero of temperature (0 K or
-273 oC) all particles forming the semiconductor
crystal will at rest and will occupy precise
positions in a geometric lattice structure, and
that:
the internal energy (due to molecular motion)
will be zero
there will be no free electrons to act as charge
carriers
it behave as perfect insulator

 Problems-Calculation
1. How much energy in Joules is required to move a
charge
of 6 coulomb through a difference in
potential of 3 Volts?
2. How many Joules does a 40-watt light bulb
consume in 1
Day?
3. Find the current flow through a light bulb from a
steady
movement of
a.
b.

60 C in 4 sec.
15 C in 2 min.

4. Find the average input power to a radio that

consumes 3600 J in 2 min. (from rearranging P=W/t
and from the fact that 1 Ws=1J.)
5 Find the conversion relation between kilowatt-hours
and
joules. (The approach here is to convert from
kilowatt- hours to watt-seconds, and then use the fact
that 1J = 1 Ws)
6. If 48eV of energy is required to moved a charge
through a
potential difference of 12Volts,
determine the charge involved. (1eV= 1.6x10-19 J)