free electron
Roaming conduction particle
A free electron is an electron not bound to any atom or molecule, able to move through a material or space.
In metals, free electrons carry electrical current.
The term extends figuratively to a person who operates independently, unattached to teams or conventional structures: He's a free electron in the organization, reporting to no one.
Heat transfer through contact
- chargeCost or accusation
- currentDirected flow of charge
- metalHard conductive solid
- conductivityAbility to carry current
semiconductor · valence · plasma · band · drift · mobility · Fermi · lattice
Not joined or connected
- independentFree from external control
- autonomousSelf-directed and free
- unboundNot tied down
- nonconformistRejects prevailing social standards
loose cannon · maverick · uncommitted · detached · untethered · freelancer · wanderer · drifter
conduction
Heat transfer through contact
conductivity · semiconductor · valence · plasma · band · drift · mobility · Fermi · lattice · delocalized
unattached
Not joined or connected
- independentFree from external control
- autonomousSelf-directed and free
- unboundNot tied down
nonconformist · loose cannon · maverick · uncommitted · detached · untethered · freelancer · wanderer · drifter · solitary
free, electronic, electron, electrons, electronically, electron beam, electron cloud, electron microscope