Electron

physics · atoms · electricity

Super small building blocks. Electrons are so tiny that billions of them could fit on the head of a pin. They are one of the main things that make up all ordinary matter in the universe, working together with quarks to build atoms.

Negative electricity. Every electron carries a negative electrical charge, like a super tiny magnet. This charge is what makes electricity flow through wires and powers your lights and games.

Spinning around atoms. Electrons orbit around the center of atoms in fuzzy clouds of possibility. They are what determines how atoms bond with each other and create everything you see and touch.

Elementary and essential. An electron is an elementary particle, which means it is a fundamental building block that cannot be broken down into smaller pieces. Along with quarks, electrons are what make up all the ordinary stuff in our universe.