Electrons exhibit circular motion in a magnetic field due to the Lorentz force, which acts perpendicular to their velocity, resulting in centripetal acceleration. In contrast, planets follow elliptical orbits under gravitational influence because gravity adheres to an inverse square law, leading to conic sections as solutions to the orbital equations. This fundamental difference arises from the nature of the forces: while gravity is a central force that decreases with the square of the distance, the magnetic force acting on charged particles like electrons is not governed by the same inverse square relationship. The discussion also touches on the historical context of atomic models, where early theories likened electrons to planets in a solar system, but quantum physics later revealed that electrons do not have fixed paths or positions, complicating the classical view. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for grasping the principles of electromagnetism and gravity in physics.
