Question

Why does an electron not fall in the nucleus?

Answer 1

• The electron does not fall into the nucleus because it is moving in orbit at high speed. So the force of attraction due to the nucleus is just strong enough to give it the necessary centripetal force and keep it in the circular orbit.

• The electrons revolve around the nucleus with a fixed energy level. These electrons cannot cross this energy level until extra energy is supplied even if the energy is supplied to the system.

• Also, every revolving charged particle radiates energy and should fall into the nucleus.

• But as Niel’s Bohr stated, only certain special orbits known as discrete orbits of electrons are allowed inside the atom and while revolving in discrete orbits, the electrons do not radiate energy. Hence do not fall into the nucleus.