Classical Electron: Will It "Fall" Into the Nucleus?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the classical view of the electron and its interaction with the nucleus, specifically questioning whether an electron would "fall" into the nucleus under classical physics. The participant acknowledges that while classical mechanics suggests the electron should adopt an elliptical orbit due to the Coulombic force, this perspective fails to account for the principles of quantum mechanics. The conclusion drawn is that a classical electron would indeed radiate energy and spiral into the nucleus, a scenario that quantum mechanics effectively resolves by preventing such behavior.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of classical mechanics principles
  • Familiarity with Coulomb's law and its application to atomic structure
  • Basic knowledge of quantum mechanics and its implications for atomic behavior
  • Concept of energy radiation in classical physics
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore the implications of quantum mechanics on atomic structure and electron behavior
  • Study the differences between classical and quantum descriptions of particles
  • Investigate the concept of energy quantization in atomic systems
  • Learn about the Schrödinger equation and its role in describing electron orbits
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for physics students, educators, and anyone interested in the foundational differences between classical and quantum mechanics, particularly in the context of atomic theory.

LogicX
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In the classical view of the electron, would the electron "fall" into the nucleus?

I'm not asking why the electron doesn't fall into the nucleus. I know this is explained by quantum mechanics.

But in class the other day, my professor said that treating the electron as a classical particle would lead to it crashing into the nucleus. This didn't really make sense to me. An electron experiences a coulombic force from the nucleus, much like a planet experiences a gravitational force from a star. With a classical view of the electron, wouldn't the electrons just adopt an elliptical orbit like a planet on a much smaller scale, or is there some other distinction between a planet and an electron where the electron would act differently and "fall" into the nucleus?

I know the classical view is wrong, I just didn't know if this reasoning really applied.
 
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A classical electron would radiate and lose energy.
 


Vanadium 50 said:
A classical electron would radiate and lose energy.

Gotcha, thanks.
 

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