Attraction between positive charge and negative charge

darkar

Opposite charge always attract and same charge repel each other.
Will proton and electron crash on each other? What will happen if they do so?

mathman

In describing what goes on between a proton and an electron at this level, you have to work with energy levels. The hydrogen atom at its lowest energy is lower in energy than a neutron. As a result, when electrons and protons get close, they form hydrogen atoms.

Janitor

There are a couple of interesting modes of radioactivity which involve the sort of thing you are asking about. Look for "electron capture" and "internal conversion" on this page:

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu...r/radact2.html

garytse86

my teacher said that the neutron is actually a proton and an electron orbitting it within planck distance

ZapperZ

Quote by garytse86

my teacher said that the neutron is actually a proton and an electron orbitting it within planck distance

Then your teacher needs to have his/her head examined.

There are several things you can tell this person that leads to indications that this isn't the right model for the neutron:

1. The LOWEST energy level for a proton-electron system is that found in the hydrogen atom. If an electron can get any closer to the proton to form that neutron model, then we would have seen lots and lots of H atom coverting itself into neutrons. This doesn't happen. This is because there's simply no states available for an electron to occupy within the single-electron energy level.

2. A proton has spin of 1/2. An electron has a spin of 1/2. But a neutron ALSO has a spin of 1/2. How does two 1/2's make 1/2? A system consisting of two spin 1/2 can produce a composite system with spin of 0 or 1, but NOT 1/2.

3. Your teacher should know by now not mislead people into thinking that an electron actually have classical "orbits", dispite the recent article in Nature.

Zz.

clint

The neutron by itself decays thanks to the weak force, the electron itself does not decay thanks to charge conservation, but ... a proton alone ?

arivero

Decay where? I mean, decay is always towards a less energetical state.

Hmm in some sense a proton does not decay, but four protons decay into Helium, with this criteria of my own... should I reshape it?

Similar Threads for: Attraction between positive charge and negative charge
Thread	Forum	Replies
[SOLVED] Why is the charge negative?	Introductory Physics Homework	5
electric charge attraction and repulsion	Classical Physics	3
The net force on a moving positive charge....	Introductory Physics Homework	7
positive charge distributed uniformly along y axis	Introductory Physics Homework	1
Spherical distribution of negative charge with two protons	Advanced Physics Homework	1

darkar	Attraction between positive charge and negative charge Tweet Opposite charge always attract and same charge repel each other. Will proton and electron crash on each other? What will happen if they do so?

mathman Recognitions: Science Advisor	In describing what goes on between a proton and an electron at this level, you have to work with energy levels. The hydrogen atom at its lowest energy is lower in energy than a neutron. As a result, when electrons and protons get close, they form hydrogen atoms.

Janitor Recognitions: Science Advisor	There are a couple of interesting modes of radioactivity which involve the sort of thing you are asking about. Look for "electron capture" and "internal conversion" on this page: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu...r/radact2.html

garytse86	Attraction between positive charge and negative charge my teacher said that the neutron is actually a proton and an electron orbitting it within planck distance

clint	The neutron by itself decays thanks to the weak force, the electron itself does not decay thanks to charge conservation, but ... a proton alone ?

arivero Blog Entries: 6 Recognitions: Gold Member	Decay where? I mean, decay is always towards a less energetical state. Hmm in some sense a proton does not decay, but four protons decay into Helium, with this criteria of my own... should I reshape it?