Why Electrons Don't Fall Into Nucleus of Atoms

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SUMMARY

The discussion addresses why electrons do not fall into the nucleus of atoms, highlighting the role of quantum mechanics and the photoelectric effect. Classical physics suggests that electrons would lose energy and spiral into the nucleus, but this is countered by the principles of quantum mechanics. The conservation of energy in the electron and electromagnetic field prevents this collapse, as electrons can only occupy quantized energy states. The ground state of an electron is stable, and spontaneous emission of photons occurs due to the quantized nature of the electromagnetic field as described by Quantum Electrodynamics (QED).

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of classical physics principles, particularly energy conservation.
  • Familiarity with quantum mechanics concepts, including quantized energy states.
  • Knowledge of the photoelectric effect and its implications in atomic physics.
  • Basic grasp of Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) and the Heisenberg uncertainty principle.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the principles of Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) and its significance in atomic theory.
  • Study the photoelectric effect and its experimental evidence in quantum physics.
  • Explore the Heisenberg uncertainty principle and its implications for particle behavior.
  • Investigate the concept of spontaneous emission and its role in quantum mechanics.
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for physics students, educators, and anyone interested in the foundational concepts of atomic structure and quantum mechanics.

TalhaZafer
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Hi,
Why the electrons in an atom doesn't fall into the nucleus?

May be because of wave-like building of the electron?

Thanks.
 
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Zz.
 
In classical physics the electron lose energy (E) when it accelerate (even centrifugal), by emission of electro-magnetic field dE/dt= - constant*(acceleration)^2 (look for Bremsstrahlung at wikipedia). Without this phenomena you could have classical electrons going in orbits around the nucleus, like planets around the sun.

The solution is quantum mechanics and the photo-electric effect (google it!).

The total energy of the electron + the energy of the (radiated) electromagnetic field is conserved. Therefore if an electron is stimulated to fall from a high quantized energy state to a lower one, the EM-filed must take that energy (the electron loose) ->a photon i emitted with this energy. But still, there is a ground state of the electron (the lowest possible), why emission of photons from this state is impossible.

Spontaneous emission of photons is caused by the vacuum field , since the electro-magnetic field is quantized (QED-theory) dE*dB>constant, like the Heisenberg uncertenity principle.

/Per
 

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