Question

Can we see an electron?

Answer 1

Hint:Here, you are asked if an electron can be seen. All you would have heard is only that there are electrons and protons and the electrons revolve around the nucleus of the atom. Now, in order to answer this question, what you need to do is, you have to consider various reasons why quantum physics is used nowadays to study the physics of small particles rather than our classical physics and also the uncertainty principle.

Complete answer:
Electron is a subatomic particle with a possession of negative charge on it and is actually an elemental particle because it has no components or sub-structure. The study of electrons comes under quantum physics. Electrons are considered to be having both particles as well as wave nature.

Electrons are way far smaller than most of the atomic nuclei. They are too small and their mass is extremely low and also their move with very high speed. As you can see that above mentioned characteristics of electrons makes it extremely difficult to view or spot an electron. Also, Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle states that the position and momentum of a particle is impossible to determine simultaneously. The only thing we can do is to approximate their position to within certain uncertainty.

So, if we do not know the exact position of the particle, it is impossible to view the electrons. Also, their mass is extremely low and therefore even a small interaction with them would throw them off making it more difficult to spot them. Therefore, we use the modern cloud concept and say that the electron is most likely to be in this region, this is actually the probability field.

So, no, we cannot see an electron.

Note:We have discussed in brief about the characteristics of an electron. You are supposed to remember that the electrons are subatomic particles, their size is too small, their mass is extremely small and their speed is also much high which makes it difficult for us to view them considering the uncertainty principle.