The Bohr radius is the smallest possible radius of an electron orbiting the nucleus in a hydrogen atom, based on Niels Bohr’s atomic model. It is still useful in physics, but current theories describe electron location in terms of shells. The radius is calculated using several factors, but does not account for low mass correction.
The Bohr radius is a unit of measurement used in atomic physics to describe the smallest possible radius of an electron orbiting the nucleus in a hydrogen atom. It was developed by Niels Bohr, based on his model of atomic structure, introduced in 1913. The value of the Bohr radius is calculated to be approximately 0.53 angstroms.
In his model of an atom, Niels Bohr theorized that electrons follow specific circular orbits around the central nucleus, held in place by electrostatic force. This model was later proven to be incorrect and is now considered too simple a description of atomic structure. Current theories describe the location of electrons in terms of spherical probability zones, known as shells. The Bohr radius is still considered useful in physics, however, as it continues to provide a physical measurement for the smallest radius an electron can have. Physics students often learn the Bohr model and equations first, as an introduction before moving on to more complicated and accurate models.
Hydrogen, with only one electron, is the simplest of all atoms, which is why the Bohr radius is based on it. Bohr’s model explains that an electron’s orbit can vary depending on the amount of energy it possesses. The Bohr beam estimates the electron orbit of hydrogen while it is in its ground state, or at its lowest energy.
There are several factors used to calculate the Bohr radius. The reduced Planck constant, a physical constant used in quantum mechanics, is divided by several other units. These include the mass of the electron, the speed of light in a vacuum, and the fine structure constant, which is another physical constant used in physics.
One factor that is not accounted for by the Bohr radius equation is low mass, which refers to systems in which two or more particles exert force on each other. When the radius is used as a constant in equations referring to more complex atoms, this makes sense and is actually more convenient. This is because the low mass correction would need to be different from that required for hydrogen and including it would make the adjustment more complicated. However, it slightly skews the measurement of the radius of the hydrogen atom. To calculate it more accurately, there is a second formula involving the Compton wavelength of the proton and electron of the atom.
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