2007-03-24 20:02:39 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
It follows from the uncertainty principle that if an electron were confined to a volume of nuclear size, it would have to have a whole lot of variance in momentum. That fact alone doesn't prove that it couldn't be part of the nucleus, but it would take a force much stronger than electrostatic attraction to keep it in there.
This was realized early on when folks originally proposed that a nucleus like helium consisted of 4 protons and 2 electrons. The problem was resolved when the neutron was discovered.
2007-03-24 20:33:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Physically, the electron orbits the nucleus. Quantum mechanics limits the energy states of the orbit, so the length of the orbit must be a multiple of the wavelength of its wavefunction. The lowest energy state of an orbiting electron is still an orbit. If an electron were to collide with the nucleus, it would be drawn to one of the protons by coulombic attraction. This is called beta decay, and the result is a neutron. It is extremely rare.
The uncertainty principle leads you to represent the electron orbits as a probability 'cloud', with the density of the cloud at a given point representing the probability of finding an electron there. That probability becomes extremely small as you approach the nucleus.
2007-03-25 10:39:19 · answer #2 · answered by Frank N 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If the electrons are located in the nucleus, then the uncertainty about their position is very small which means a large uncertainty about their momentum.
However, the momentum of electrons in their respective orbitals about the nucleus are known with considerable accuracy which requires a level of uncertainty which prevents electrons from being a part of the nucleus.
2007-03-25 03:31:20 · answer #3 · answered by ag_iitkgp 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Simpy using the uncertainty principle, forgetting everything you have learned before, I believe you can actually prove that the electron has the greatest probability of being *in* the nucleus.
2007-03-25 05:34:57 · answer #4 · answered by pecier 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Electrons constitute part of nucleus, an electron and proton form the neutron, part of the nucleus.
2007-03-25 11:38:52 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Electrons are never in the nucleus, they're orbiting it. I don't know what happens if an electron stops moving, but it's probably something bad like a black hole.
2007-03-25 03:07:13 · answer #6 · answered by Moral Orel 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
ELECTRONS ARE NOT ACTUALLY INSIDE THE NUCLEUS .
IF THEE ELSCTRON IS NOT PRESENT THEN IT WOULD BE SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THE ANTI-MATTER
OR
BLACKHOLE.
2007-03-25 03:24:56 · answer #7 · answered by kartik 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋