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The nuclei of atoms are composed of protons and neutrons. The proton has a positive charge, and the neutron a neutral charge. Shells of electrons outside the nucleus in the atom orbit around the nucleus. Here is my question: If the protons in the nucleus possess a rival charge to the electron, why doesn’t the electron become attracted to the proton(s) in the nucleus and hence fall “into” the atom?

Curious Fish
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  • This question has been asked multiple times, see: https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/20003/why-dont-electrons-crash-into-the-nuclei-they-orbit – enumaris Oct 03 '18 at 16:24

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The Sun attracts the Earth, so why don't we fall into the Sun? There is a different problem for the atom, though. When electrons accelerate, they give off energy as photons. Orbiting in a circle is still form of acceleration, so the electron should lose all of its orbital energy and then fall into the nucleus. This doesn't happen, so we know that the orbiting electron picture is wrong. Quantum mechanics tells us the electrons act like waves around the nucleus.

HiddenBabel
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    I see. That's also why scientists say that quantum mechanics cannot be compared to the real world in any physical or logical state. – Curious Fish Oct 03 '18 at 16:29
  • In an s state such as the ground state of hydrogen the electron moves radially with respect to the nucleus, if such a classical image applies at all. So in fact the electron should pass through the nucleus but with high kinetic energy. – my2cts Oct 03 '18 at 20:06