What force prevents electrons from falling into the nucleus?

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Electrons are kept from falling into the nucleus primarily due to quantum mechanics rather than classical physics. The concept of "orbiting" is misleading; electrons do not follow fixed paths like planets around the sun. Instead, their behavior is described by probability distributions, which means they exist in a cloud-like region around the nucleus. The forces at play include electrostatic attraction and quantum effects, such as Fermi pressure, which prevent electrons from collapsing into the nucleus. Understanding these principles requires a grasp of quantum mechanics rather than classical analogies.
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101 question, probably could find out by doing research but had luck on this forum on another topic, so ...

If electrons have 'negative' charge and nucleus is 'positive' what force keeps them apart ? Is it just a matter of them sort of 'orbiting' like the moon around the Earth where 'falling' at same rate as G or 'centripetal' force same as G ? I got the impression that the electrons move about with some randomness which I would have thought would mean that on closer approaches to nucleus would over time cause electron to fall down to nucleus. ?? Thanks for any insight
 
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Tim Edilation said:
101 question, probably could find out by doing research but had luck on this forum on another topic, so ...

If electrons have 'negative' charge and nucleus is 'positive' what force keeps them apart ? Is it just a matter of them sort of 'orbiting' like the moon around the Earth where 'falling' at same rate as G or 'centripetal' force same as G ? I got the impression that the electrons move about with some randomness which I would have thought would mean that on closer approaches to nucleus would over time cause electron to fall down to nucleus. ?? Thanks for any insight

Please start by reading the FAQ thread in the General Physics forum.

Zz.
 
ZapperZ said:
Please start by reading the FAQ thread in the General Physics forum.

Zz.

Thanks, I don't know how i didn't see that, sorry
 
Tim Edilation said:
101 question, probably could find out by doing research but had luck on this forum on another topic, so ...

If electrons have 'negative' charge and nucleus is 'positive' what force keeps them apart ?

Fermi pressure

Is it just a matter of them sort of 'orbiting' like the moon around the Earth where 'falling' at same rate as G or 'centripetal' force same as G ? I got the impression that the electrons move about with some randomness which I would have thought would mean that on closer approaches to nucleus would over time cause electron to fall down to nucleus. ?? Thanks for any insight

No. When you are talking about particles that small, classical physics doesn't make sense. The electron doesn't "orbit" around the nucleus in the classical sense of the word.
 
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