AS101 Chapter 5.2-5.4: Chapter 5.2-5.4.docx
Document Summary
Light from hot toaster coils and light from the sun and other stars are all produced by moving electrons. An atom has a massive compact nucleus containing positively charged protons, usually accompanied by electrically neutral neutrons. The nucleus is embedded in a large cloud of relatively low-mass, negatively charged electrons. These particles can also exist and move about unattached to an atom. Charged particles, both protons and electrons, are surrounded by electric fields that they produce. Whenever you change the motion of a charged particle, the change in its electric field spreads outward at the speed of light as electromagnetic radiation. Protons can also make electromagnetic radiation, but because electrons are less massive, usually it is electrons that do most of the moving around. You can refer to this agitation as thermal energy. When you touch a hot object, you feel heat as that thermal energy flows into your fingers.
