Electron orbit radius
Description
In atomic physics, the Rutherford–Bohr model or Bohr model, depicts the atom as a small, positively charged nucleus surrounded by electrons that travel in circular orbits around the nucleus.
The electrons can only orbit stably, without radiating, in certain orbits at a certain discrete set of distances from the nucleus. These orbits are associated with definite energies and are also called energy shells or energy levels. In these orbits, the electron’s acceleration does not result in radiation and energy loss as required by classical electromagnetics.
Electrons can only gain and lose energy by jumping from one allowed orbit to another, absorbing or emitting electromagnetic radiation with a frequency determined by the energy difference of the levels.
The allowed electron’s orbit radius at any level “n” is related to electron’s orbit number, electron’s mass, electron’s charge and the atom’s atomic number.
Variables
rn | Electron orbit radius (m) |
n | Electron orbit number (dimensionless) |
h | Planck constant |
Z | Atomic number (dimensionless) |
ke | Coulomb's constant |
e | atomic unit of charge |
me | electron mass |