Any similarities and differences between the structure of an atom and the structure of our solar system?

Question

Does anyone know what makes them unique and also shows how they are the same? This has been on my mind for awhile.

Answer 1

Atom nucleus: composed of several entities -- neutrons, protons, and even smaller particles and energies holding the whole thing together. The nucleus is generally stable, not emitting any energy (except for radioactive isotopes).

Solar system nucleus: composed of a single large entity; the sun. The sum emits energy and mass constantly.

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Atom 'shell': electrons are in orbitals at discrete energies, but they 'orbit' in 3 dimensions, changing both speed and distance from the nucleus. Mass is the same for each electron. Electrons do not have "moons". There are no other permanent objects 'orbiting' the nucleus.

Solar system "shell": composed of planets in orbit at discrete distances in a planar elipse (not 3-D). Mass is different for each planet. Planets have moon(s). Other objects (comets, rogue asteroids) are part of the solar system.

Answer 2

Obviously there is a huge difference in the scale . . .

More seriously, one of the intial models used to describe atomic structure (the Bohr model) described the atom as being like our solar system with electrons have discrete orbits around the nucleus much like planets around the sun.

However, this is an early model. The problem with using the solar system as a model for the atom is that electrons are not just particles. They are also waves. This wave-particle duality makes it difficult to describe exactly how they behave. All matter can be described as both waves and particles; however, only if the mass of the matter is very small does the wave nature become significant.

Planets are massive and can be described very accurately as particles. The follow discrete orbits around the sun with known periods of revolution and rotation. Some planets have moons.

Electrons are small enough that they can also be described as waves. Two Nobel prizes have been awarded in Chemistry for showing the electron to be particle like and for showing the electron to be wavelike.

The location of an electron around the nucleus is best described (according to our current understanding) as being in orbitals, which are the square of the wavefunction - indicating where the electron is probably located. There are different types of orbital with different symmetry. These orbitals exist in shells depending on how far away from the nucleus they are.

The first shell is has a s orbital (spherical). The electrons in that shell are described by quantum numbers n=1 (first shell), m=0 (s orbital), m_l=0 (magnetic quantum number, becomes more important at higher values of m), and m_s=1/2 or -1/2 (spin up or spin down). These quantum numbers describe the electrons rather than the distances and locations used to describe planets.

Answer 3

Other than the obvious difference in size, our solar system has often been likened to an atom with the sun as the nucleus and the planets as electrons.

The earth therefore, can be likened to an atom of Hydrogen..
Earth, as the nucleus and the moon as the single electron.

Answer 4

The similarities are only in pictures.