Understanding Free Electrons: Movement and Interaction with Nonconductors

[ggandy]

Can we call it free electron that moves between nonconductor by friction?

 

[ZapperZ]

Can we call it free electron that moves between nonconductor by friction?

This is so puzzling, it is making no sense.

1. Is a "nonconductor" an insulator?

2. What exactly is "friction" for an electron in a solid?

3. Why can't a "free electron" be an electron in zero potential? Why is that definition not sufficient?

Zz.

 

[ggandy]

This is so puzzling, it is making no sense.

1. Is a "nonconductor" an insulator?

2. What exactly is "friction" for an electron in a solid?

3. Why can't a "free electron" be an electron in zero potential? Why is that definition not sufficient?

Zz.

1. noncoductor. for example a fur, a ebonite bar

2. between a fur and a ebonite bar

3. I'm sorry about that is not sufficient. Maybe it cause my english level is not high. I'm a Korean science teacher in the middle school.

In our country, In general we teach free elctrons exist only in metal materials. but today my students asked me why we can't call it free electron that moves between a fur and a ebonite bar. and he asked me " Isn't it free?"

so I need a help.

 

[ZapperZ]

1. noncoductor. for example a fur, a ebonite bar

2. between a fur and a ebonite bar

3. I'm sorry about that is not sufficient. Maybe it cause my english level is not high. I'm a Korean science teacher in the middle school.

In our country, In general we teach free elctrons exist only in metal materials. but today my students asked me why we can't call it free electron that moves between a fur and a ebonite bar. and he asked me " Isn't it free?"

so I need a help.

Then we definitely have communication/language issues.

If what I'm guessing is correct, you are talking about static electricity and the "spark" that occurs between two surfaces. Tell your students that this spark is NOT "free electrons". Rather, it is a complex process of electrons ionizing gasses/air molecules, etc.

Tell your students that free electrons are electrons moving in a constant potential energy. The electrons in a conductor are APPROXIMATELY free, because they are moving in a weak periodic potential that sometime can be approximated as being free.

There is no "friction" in the motion of electrons here, unless you are talking about scattering.

Zz.

 

[ggandy]

1. noncoductor. for example a fur, a ebonite bar

2. between a fur and a ebonite bar

3. I'm sorry about that is not sufficient. Maybe it cause my english level is not high. I'm a Korean science teacher in the middle school.

In our country, In general we teach free elctrons exist only in metal materials. but today my students asked me why we can't call it free electron that moves between a fur and a ebonite bar. and he asked me " Isn't it free?"

so I need a help.

Should I call it a bound electron?

 

[ggandy]

Then we definitely have communication/language issues.

If what I'm guessing is correct, you are talking about static electricity and the "spark" that occurs between two surfaces. Tell your students that this spark is NOT "free electrons". Rather, it is a complex process of electrons ionizing gasses/air molecules, etc.

Tell your students that free electrons are electrons moving in a constant potential energy. The electrons in a conductor are APPROXIMATELY free, because they are moving in a weak periodic potential that sometime can be approximated as being free.

There is no "friction" in the motion of electrons here, unless you are talking about scattering.

Zz.

http://cafe.naver.com/ggandyscience3/3169
The "friction" in my question is the process between two objects like the linked movie.
then could I call it an electron of complex process?
I'm absolutely thanks for your sepcific explanation. thank you.

 

[Vanadium 50]

I don't think we're communicating, and a movie in Korean is not helping.