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Why do electrons orbit around the nucleus of an atom?

Best Answers

The proposal, first made in 1913, that the centrifugal force of the revolving electron just exactly balances the attractive force of the nucleus (in analogy with the centrifugal force of the moon in its orbit exactly counteracting the pull of the Earth's gravity) is a nice picture, but is simply untenable. read more

The picture of electrons "orbiting" the nucleus like planets around the sun remains an enduring one, not only in popular images of the atom but also in the minds of many of us who know better. read more

The electrons of each atom, in fact, form a negative-electrical-charge cloud around the nucleus rather than “orbit” the nucleus or combine with the positively charged protons they’re attracted to and form a neutron. read more

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