How did Schrodinger's model improve Bohr's model?

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In summary, the Schrodinger model of the atom improves upon the Bohr model in two distinct ways. Firstly, quantization emerges naturally from Schrodinger's equation through boundary confinements, while Bohr's model relies on assumption. Secondly, the Schrodinger model replaces circular orbits with orbitals, providing a probability of finding an electron. This model also has the advantage of being a more general theory, allowing for the explanation of new problems such as barrier penetration and band gaps in semi-conductors. Overall, the Schrodinger model offers a better understanding of the natural world compared to the Bohr model.
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mahrap
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Can anyone think of two distinct ways which the Schrodinger model of the atom improves upon the Bohr model of the Atom? I think the two reasons are that quantization emerges naturally from Schrodinger's equation by boundary confinements while Bohr just assumed quanitization. The other improvement is the replacement of the circular orbits with orbitals which give a probability of finding an electron. The only problem I see with my first reason is that it is not directly related to the Schrodinger model; rather it is because of his equation.
 
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The most important difference is that the Schrodinger model is a much more general theory. It's a quantum mechanics that can be used to explain new problems (barrier penetration, analytical solutions to other 1-dimensional problems, band gaps in semi-conductors, etc.) in the process of explaining the special case that was the hydrogen atom and its spectrum. It's significantly less ad hoc than the earlier Bohr model of the atom.

A better theory usually leads to more ability to explain problems far from the problem from which the theory was developed. This is certainly one of those cases. Simply put, we gain a much better understanding of the natural world under the Schrodinger model than we do under the Bohr model.
 
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The Bohr model predicts that the orbital angular momentum of the ground state of hydrogen is ##\hbar##. Schrödinger's model predicts that it's zero. Guess which one is correct experimentally.
 

Related to How did Schrodinger's model improve Bohr's model?

1. How did Schrodinger's model improve Bohr's model?

Schrodinger's model improved Bohr's model by incorporating the concept of electron probability. While Bohr's model only described the energy levels and paths of electrons in an atom, Schrodinger's model introduced the idea that an electron's location cannot be precisely determined, but rather its position can be described in terms of a probability distribution.

2. What was the main difference between Bohr's model and Schrodinger's model?

The main difference between Bohr's model and Schrodinger's model lies in their approach to describing the behavior of electrons in an atom. Bohr's model was based on the idea of fixed electron orbits, while Schrodinger's model introduced the concept of electron wave functions and their probability distributions.

3. Did Schrodinger's model completely replace Bohr's model?

No, Schrodinger's model did not completely replace Bohr's model. While Schrodinger's model provided a more accurate and comprehensive description of electron behavior, Bohr's model is still used to explain some aspects of atomic structure, such as the energy levels of hydrogen atoms.

4. How did Schrodinger's model contribute to our understanding of atomic structure?

Schrodinger's model contributed to our understanding of atomic structure by providing a more accurate and detailed description of the behavior of electrons in an atom. It also helped to explain phenomena that could not be fully understood by Bohr's model, such as the behavior of multi-electron atoms.

5. What was the significance of Schrodinger's model in the development of quantum mechanics?

Schrodinger's model played a significant role in the development of quantum mechanics. It provided a mathematical framework for describing the behavior of electrons in atoms and helped to bridge the gap between classical and quantum physics. Schrodinger's model also paved the way for further advancements in quantum mechanics and our understanding of the subatomic world.

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