Electron mass is a fundamental property of electrons, representing the intrinsic amount of matter they possess. It is a measure of the electron’s resistance to acceleration.
- Atomic Structure: The mass of electrons contributes to the overall mass of atoms and influences the behaviour of electrons within the atom.
- The arrangement of electrons in orbitals and their energy levels are partly determined by their mass.
- Energy levels are partly determined by their mass due to the interaction between the electrons and the positively charged nucleus of the atom.
- The mass of an electron contributes to its inertia, which is its resistance to changes in motion.
- This inertia affects the electron’s ability to respond to the electrostatic attraction from the nucleus and influences its distribution within the atom.