Question

On the basis of the uncertainty principle it can be proved that

• A. Electrons exist inside the nucleus
• B. Electrons do not exist inside the nucleus
• C. Neutrons exist inside the nucleus
• D. Protons exist inside the nucleus

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

Electrons do not exist inside the nucleus

The Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, The position and momentum of a particle cannot be simultaneously measured with arbitrarily high precision. There is a minimum for the product of the uncertainties of these two measurements. There is likewise a minimum for the product of the uncertainties of the energy and time.

$\Delta x\Delta p>h/2$

or, $\Delta E\Delta t>h/2$

For electrons, the confinement energy (energy required to confine electron in nucleus) comes out to be very high as compared to actually observed. So electrons do not exist inside the nucleus.