Charges and Electricity Atoms, the basic building blocks of matter, are made of three basic components: protons, neutrons, and electrons: The protons and neutrons cluster together to forni the nucleus, the central part of the atom, and the (1 ) __ orbit about the nucleus. Protons and electrons both carry an electrical charge. The charges they carry are opposite to each other; protons carry a (2) electrical charge while electrons carry a negative electrical charge. Neutrons are (3) · charged- they carry·no charge at all. · Electricity is the movement of charged particles, usually·electrons, from one place to another. Materials that electricity can move through easily are called conductors. Most metals, such as iron, copper, and (4) _____ are good (5) ______ of electricity. Other materials, such as rubber, wood and glass, block the flow of electricity. Materials which (6) ______ the flow of electricity are called insulators. Electrical cords are usually made with both conductors and (7) ______ Electricity flows through a/an (8) ____ in the center of the cord. A layer of insulation (9) _______ the conductor and .(10) _______ the electricity from ' leaking' out. Objects usually have equal numbers of positive and negative charges, but it isn't too hard to temporarily create an imbalance. One way scientists can create an imbalance is with a machine called a (11) ______ generator. It creates a large static charge by placing electrons on a metal dome using a motor and a big rubber band. Since I ike charges (12) _______ , the electrons push away from each other as they collect on the dome. Eventually, too many electrons are placed on the dome and they leap off, creating a spark that looks like a bolt of lightning. Have you ever received a/an (13) _______ after having walked across a carpet? This shock was caused by extra electrons you collected while walking across the carpet. Your body became like the dome of the Van de Graaff generator, full of extra electrons looking for a way to get away. The path back to the carpet was blocked by the (14) ___ you were wearing, but they were able to move through your hand and into the object that you touched, causing the shock. So, the next time you shuffle across a carpet and shock your friend on the ear, tell them you were just trying to be a Van de Graaff generator!​