Question

What are the limitations of E. Rutherford’s model of an atom?

[2 Marks]
[Exemplar]
[Rutherford's atomic models]

Answer 1

Solution:

The revolution of an electron in a circular path is not expected to be stable. Any particle in a circular path would undergo acceleration. During acceleration, charged particles would radiate energy. Thus, the revolving electron would lose energy and finally fall into the nucleus. If this is the case, then the atom should be highly unstable and hence matter would not exist in the form that we know.
Therefore, Rutherford failed to explain the stability of an atom.
[2 Marks]