🚀 go-pugleaf

Correct me if I've missed something here, but don't we really see
electrons as wave-like with a distribution in the region of the
orbital that corresponds to the particular energy level?  What
does centripetal or centrifugal force have to do with it?
Steve

>
> Here's another "spin" on this question:  I got into a lengthy discussion with
> one of our chemistry teachers.  According to him chemistry teachers have
> "always" explained the size of the atom in terms of a "balance" between
> centripetal and centrifugal forces.  In particular, he was somehow using it
> to explain the periodic behavior of atomic diameter.  I tried to explain to
> him that if there is anything in a balance it is the attraction of the
> electron to the nucleus vs. the "natural" tendency for the electron to
> continue in a straight line (at a tangent to the circle).  He countered with
> the example of pressure:  the cumulative effect of many molecules bouncing
> off of a container wall, and suggested that the electrons in an atom had to
> be exerting an outward force on the invisible "wall" of the atom since the
> nucleus was exerting an inward force on them.  As you can see, the discussing
> got very detailed, but the chem teacher went away still unconvinced that his
> explanation was wrong.  In fact, he suggested that he would not stop giving
> this explanation to students until I could provide him with a better one.
>  Anyone interested in biting in to this one?
>


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Stephen Hamersky     e-mail: hamersky@bluejay.creighton.edu
Daniel J. Gross H.S.       voice: (402) 734-2000
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