Evening star., 1926-04-22
The Electren Theory. Part III

The relation between electrons,
atoms, molecules and substan noes can
be sra sped more easily IL we compare
the orga nization of the units which
go to make up substance with the
orga MIA ton Of an army.
The basic unit of an army Is the
individual soldier. We will consider
for purposes of illustration that each
individual soldier is an exact pattern
of every other soldier. The individual
soldier, then corresponds to the cleo
iron.
company In the army Is made up
OF varying number of soldiers. de-
pending upon the work which the
company is called upon to do. In the
army we have compa nies of artillery.
infantry, signal linen, etc.
Different Combinations
These correspond to the atoms
which are made up OF different mum
bers and Combina tions of elt ctrons. In
the army the company Is the unit OF
a number OF individual soldiers. the
atom. which corresponds To this unit.
is made up Of varying number OF
electrons.
A number Of cOmpa MES of various
kinds in the army go to make up
regiment A number OF atoms In
various combinations go to make up
molecule of q substa nee
TO carry the similarity further.
number of regime nts so TO make np
div ision while a number of molecules
go to make up suhsta nee. Again in
army circles, number of divisions &"
to make up an army corps While
number of substances go to make up
mixture of substances.
While they are not exactly parall
cases I'm orga MIA ton. they serve 10
show the way in which combinations
Of materials are obtained from
minute characteristic, an electr"n.
common to all substances
Centrifugal Force.
In the solar system there are two
forces that are continually acting To
These two forces are centrifugal force
which tends TO cause the pla nets TO
tiy of. away from the central figure
of the system. the sun and centripetal
force. or the force which tends to
bring the planets TO the sun by the
force Of gravity. These forces are
equal and opposite and thus cause the
system Ia preserve its balance.
We know from our studies OF mag
netism that like poles repel each other
and unlike poles attract each other.
In electricity like charges repel each
other, and unlike charges attract each
other. Electrons are minute charges
Of negative electricity. so that IL only
negative charges were present. they
would repel each other. and the cleo
irons would he forced away from each
other.
Since the negative electrons do not
fiv apart in an atom. IL is believed
that there is central force or pos
lively charged nucleus thai causes the
system to preserve it's alance, the at
tractive force of the positively charged
nucleus being just great enough 10
counteract the repulsive forces of the
negative eleCtronS SO far as II IL
known the positive nucleus has never
been isolated or removed from an
atom The negative electrons, how
ever. can he removed from or added
to an atom by various methods. When
a negative electron is removed from
an atom the ba Ia nee is upset and
the atom becomes electrically positive.
When negative electron is added To
an atom the ba la nee is also upset. but
in that case the atom becomes cleo
trically negativ
A further discussion OF the effects
produced by making an atom posi-
tive or negative by removing or adding
electrons respectively will he contained
in tomorrow article.