The Field Guide to Particle Physics

The Electron Cloud

The Field Guide to Particle Physics

Show Notes

Atoms are modeled by a nucleus surrounded by an electron cloud. We’ve discussed the nucleus earlier; it’s the hard center of the atom. It’s really, really small, as small as a speck of dust in the middle of a baseball stadium. Despite that fact, the nucleus makes up over 99% of the atom’s mass. Electrons are quite light by comparison.

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