An electron is a subatomic particle, usually considered an elementary particle, as it doesn’t have any known parts or structure within it.
- In an atom, electrons inhabit an area around the nucleus known as electron shells.
- Similar to other elementary particles, electrons show features of both particles and waves.
- Electrons play an essential role in many physical phenomena including electricity, magnetism, chemistry, and heat transfer. They also play a role in gravitational, electromagnetic and weak interactions.
- Electrons significantly contribute to the phenomena of electromagnetism because they have an electric field around them, and when moving produce a magnetic field.
- When accelerated electrons radiate or absorb energy in the form of photons.
- Electrons can collide with other particles and can be diffracted in a similar way to light.
- Electrons have a negative electric charge.
- The spin of an electron makes it behave like a tiny magnet.
- Spin is a type of angular momentum carried by elementary particles, atomic nuclei, and other quantum particles. It’s a key property of these particles, much like mass or charge. It’s important to note that spin doesn’t involve actual spinning in the physical sense we’re used to.