What evidence do we have that electrons orbit nuclei?

Question

How do we know the structure of atoms? If the structure has been proven or observed to be true, could sub-atomic particles also be essentially "hollow" like atoms?
Thanks

Answer 1

The Bohr model is a simplified model but it's not wrong. Electrons do orbit the nucleus, but the orbits are not as simple as planetary orbits. Each electron also interacts with the other electrons in its shell, as well as those in the shells above and below it. Quantum considerations limit your ability to measure or predict the actual location of an electron at any particular instant, so its orbit can be visualized as a 'cloud' of probability density. It really is in an orbit, but we just can't tell exactly where. Also, the length of the orbit must be an integral multiple of the wavelength of the electron's wavefunction. That's why when an electron drops to a lower orbit with a lower energy level, it must do so in discrete steps, emitting a photon whose energy equals the energy difference.

You'll need to read some history of physics to learn how we discovered what we know of the structure of the atom, but particle accelerators played a large part.

So far we know nothing of the internal structure, if any, of subatomic particles. We think the hadrons are composed of quarks, but we don't really know what the quarks are. Perhaps we'll learn more after the Large Hadron Collider comes online, scheduled for Summer 2008.

Answer 2

The fact that electrons do not orbit the nuclei in those flower like patterns that we see everywhere has been proved by the quantum theory. That was the Bohr's model of an atom. But now electrons are considered to be residing in orbitals around the neutron. An orbital is the region near a nucleus where the probability of finding an electron is greatest. And this statistical calculation is carried out by solving the Schroedinger's wave function. SO, electrons don't orbit the nucleus. We don't know what they do to be in their orbitals just yet.

Answer 3

Electrons don't orbit the nuclei, they buzz around at various distances form the nuclei in random positions.