(Physics) What is an Atom?

There are three parts to an atom. Each have their own unique properties and traits that make them different from one another. An atom consists of two parts, the nucleus and the orbital shell. The nucleus consists of protons and neutrons that are closely packed together. The protons are positively charged particles that keep the neutrally charged atoms (neutrons) around them. The orbital shell is where the electrons are located. Electrons are negatively charged particles that fly around the nucleus of an atom.

This design came from a Danish physicist named Niels Bohr. He was the one who came up with what we know today as the Bohr model. The Bohr model is the common image of an atom with a nucleus filled with protons and neutrons, as well as electrons flying around the nucleus.

One thing to note is that if an atom has equal number of protons as electrons, then it has no net charge. If the number of electrons outnumber the number of protons, then the atom is negatively charged and vice versa. The total number of electrons is equal to the total number of protons, so long that the atom is stable and neutral.