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=Moving Electrons and Charges= Electricity is related to [|charges], and both electrons and protons carry a charge. The amount of the charge is the same for each particle, but opposite in sign. Electrons carry a **negative charge** while protons carry **positive charge**. The objects around us contain billions and billions of atoms, and each atom contains many protons and electrons. The protons are located in the center of the atom, concentrated in a small area called the nucleus. The electrons are in motion outside of the **nucleus** in orbitals. The protons are basically trapped inside the nucleus and can't escape the nucleus. As a result, it is moving electrons that are primarily responsible for electricity.

There aren't a lot of places that you can see electricity. The most commonly- observed form of electricity is probably **lightning**. Lightning is a big spark that occurs when lots of electrons move from one place to another very quickly. There are three basic forms of lightning, cloud to cloud, cloud to surface, and surface to cloud. All are created when there is an unequal distribution of electrons. You can also see smaller sparks of electricity in science labs that contain **Van de Graff** generators, and can see even smaller **arcs** of electrons at home when you scuff your feet and then touch something like a metal doorknob (static electricity).