Nature of Electricity

According to modern electron theory of matter all matter whether solid, liquid or gas is composed of very small particles called molecules. A molecule is in tern made up of atoms. An atom consists of a central part called nucleus and around the nucleus (called extra nucleus)  there are a number of electrons revolving in different parts of orbits. The size of nucleus is is very small as compared to the size of the atom.



  • The nucleus is contains protons and neutrons.                                                                        
  • A proton is a positively charged particle having mast 1837 times that of an electron.                             
  • A neutron has the same mass as proton but no charge. Clearly the nucleus of an  atom bears a positive charge on a proton. Under normal condition the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons in an atom. Therefore an atom is neutral as a whole, the negative charge charge on electrons cancelling the positive charge on protons.                                                                                                                                 
  • The above data show discussion shows that matter is electrical in nature . i.e. it contains particles of electricity viz proton and electron. Whether a given body exhibits electricity (charge) or not depend upon the relative number of these particles of electricity.
  1. If the number of number of protons is equal to the number of electron in a body the resultant charge is zero zero is zero and the body will be electrically neutral. Thus the paper of of this book is electrically neutral (example paper exhibits no charge charge no charge charge) because it has the same number of proton and electron and electron.                                              
  2. If from a neutral body some electrons are removed there occurs a deficit of electrons in the body. consequently, the body attains a positive charge. Hence a positively charged body has deficit of electrons from the normal due share.                                                                                
  3. If a neutral body is supplied with electron there occurs an excess of electrons. consequently the body a attains a -ve charge. Hence a negatively charged body has an excess of electrons from the normal due share.