What charge does an electron have?
Overview
The goal of this lesson is mainly to get students re-familiarized with basic electrostatics. They will watch a short video to help them recall the parts of an atom and basic subatomic particle behavior. They need to come away with the understanding that electrons are very small (relative to protons and neutrons), negatively charged, and on the "outside" of an atom.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards
Computational Thinking in STEM
- Data Practices
- Analyzing Data
- Collecting Data
- Visualizing Data
- Modeling and Simulation Practices
- Assessing Computational Models
- Constructing Computational Models
- Computational Problem Solving Practices
- Computer Programming
- Troubleshooting and Debugging
Credits
The youtube video used in this lesson is: https://www.youtube.com/embed/cpBb2bgFO6I
Activities
- 1. How Do Electrons Behave?
Student Directions and Resources
The goal of this lesson is to remind you of the parts of the atom, and some basic properties of each. At the end of this lesson you will answer some questions to test your understanding.
1. How Do Electrons Behave?
Watch the video below and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1.1
positive
negative
neutral
negative
neutral
Question 1.2
Where do electrons "live"?
in the nucleus
outside the nucleus
inside the neutrons
next to the protons
outside the nucleus
inside the neutrons
next to the protons
Question 1.3
When a neutral atom gains or loses electrons, that atom is considered charged. Why do atoms gain and lose electrons, while protons and neutrons generally aren't exchanged between atoms?
Electrons are negatively charged.
Electrons are very small (relative to protons and neutrons).
Electrons are on the outside.
Electrons are constantly moving.
Electrons are very small (relative to protons and neutrons).
Electrons are on the outside.
Electrons are constantly moving.
