Welcome to You Ask Andy

Alfred Quattrone, age 15, of Philadelphia, Penna.,

What is the quantum theory?

The quantum theory concerns the energy of atomic particles. As we all know the tiny atom is composed of still smaller particles. These are little bundles of electricity and they come in many different varieties: The big three are the proton, the electron and the neutron. The proton is a charge of positive electricity, the electron is a charge of negative electricity and the neutron, a balance of negative and positive electricity, is electrically neutral,

Each atomic particle has just so much electrical energy and no more. It can, however, gain and lose extra energy. Each little dose of energy is a quantum. The quantum is a unit of energy. The theory of how it is gained and lost is demonstrated by the behavior of the electrons.

The nucleus of the atom contains a proton or protons, almost always a neutron or neutrons and a variety of other particles. The nucleus is a tightly welded core. We need either radioactivity or atom smashing equipment to break it apart.

Most experts believe that the electrons orbit the nucleus much as the planets orbit the sun. Each type of atom has a given number of electrons and no more. The hydrogen atom has IkUt one electron, carbon has six and oxygen eight. The number of negatively charged electrons in an atom is balanced by an equal number of positively charged protons in the nucleus. A healthy atom, then, is electrically neutral.

  The orbiting electrons are arranged in orderly shells or circles. The inner, K, shell of each atom, except hydrogen, has only two; the second, L, may be complete with eight; the third, M, may have up to 18, and the fourth shell, N, may have up to 32 electrons. These busy little bodies use their energy to orbit the nucleus. This gives them centrifugal for d , which tends to pull them away from the nucleus. However, they also feel the pull of the positive protons. When these two forces balance the electrons remain safely in their orbits. The atom is in a ground, or normal state.

When heat or other energy is added to the atom small doses are gobbled up by the whirling electrons. Each uses a quantum of energy to whirl faster. As the centrifugal force increases the electron pulls farther away from the nucleus. It may swing way out to the next energy shell. The atom is in an excited state.

Each little quota of this exciting energy is a quantum. It has been borrowed from some outside force and the electron uses it to swing a wide and merry whirl. But what has been borrowed must be returned. Sooner or later the excited electron must give back its quantum of energy,

When this happens some form of energy is given forth. It may be ultraviolet or infrared, or even ordinary light. The quanta, plural or quantum, emitted is equal to the quanta absorbed. No unit of energy smaller than a quantum will cause the electrons to become excited. Hence the energy of atomic particles must be estimated, under the quantum theory, in whole numbers of quanta. When the quanta of borrow F.. energy is emitted the electrons fall back into their normal orbits and the atom is again in a stable ground state,

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