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Imparcticle
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When an electron is orbiting a proton, why is it not compelled to be attracted to the proton? Why doesn't it stick to the proton?
The fact that it loses energy prevents it from being attracted to the proton?Imp, basically yes. The historical problem was that the electron is a charged body, thus it is supposed to radiate, losing energy and then losing centrufugal force. This was the problem adressed, and solved, with quantum mechanics.
Imparcticle said:The fact that it loses energy prevents it from being attracted to the proton?
Just how was it resolved?
Protons and electrons interact through electromagnetic force. The positively charged protons in the nucleus attract the negatively charged electrons, keeping them in orbit around the nucleus.
The electron does not stick to the proton because of the balance between the attractive force of the proton and the centrifugal force of the electron's orbit. If the electron were to stick to the proton, it would lose its velocity and fall into the nucleus.
The electron's orbital is the region around the nucleus where the electron is most likely to be found. It determines the size, shape, and energy level of an atom, and is essential for the stability of an atom.
The distance between the proton and electron affects the atom's size and energy level. The closer the electron is to the nucleus, the smaller the atom and the higher the energy level. Conversely, the further away the electron is, the larger the atom and the lower the energy level.
Yes, the electron's orbital can change. Electrons can move to different energy levels through the absorption or emission of energy, causing changes in the size and shape of the orbital. The electron can also jump to different orbitals, creating different chemical bonds and reactions.