Comments on: Scale model of a hydrogen atom. http://www.neatorama.com/2007/07/12/scale-model-of-a-hydrogen-atom/ The Neat Side of the Web Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:03:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Henk http://www.neatorama.com/2007/07/12/scale-model-of-a-hydrogen-atom/comment-page-1/#comment-156879 Henk Mon, 16 Jul 2007 16:11:52 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/07/12/scale-model-of-a-hydrogen-atom/#comment-156879 What is the size of a a sub-atomic particle anyway? At this scale, you can only talk about a particle's wavelength, which is inversely proportional to its mass. So, the electron should be huge, and the nucleus small. Hmm... there's an idea for another model... Empty space within an atom is irrelevant. What is the size of a a sub-atomic particle anyway?

At this scale, you can only talk about a particle’s wavelength, which is inversely proportional to its
mass. So, the electron should be huge, and the
nucleus small.

Hmm… there’s an idea for another model…

Empty space within an atom is irrelevant.

]]> By: Alex http://www.neatorama.com/2007/07/12/scale-model-of-a-hydrogen-atom/comment-page-1/#comment-154192 Alex Sat, 14 Jul 2007 06:56:16 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/07/12/scale-model-of-a-hydrogen-atom/#comment-154192 Yeah, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_cloud" rel="nofollow">electron cloud</a> is actually so much weirder. Yeah, electron cloud is actually so much weirder.

]]> By: Anthony http://www.neatorama.com/2007/07/12/scale-model-of-a-hydrogen-atom/comment-page-1/#comment-153635 Anthony Fri, 13 Jul 2007 19:50:58 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/07/12/scale-model-of-a-hydrogen-atom/#comment-153635 "Perhaps a better model would have the electron zooming around like a crazy moon?" No "The mental image we have of nucleus = planet and electron = moon is very unfitting." “Perhaps a better model would have the electron zooming around like a crazy moon?”

No

“The mental image we have of nucleus = planet and electron = moon is very unfitting.”

]]> By: beajerry http://www.neatorama.com/2007/07/12/scale-model-of-a-hydrogen-atom/comment-page-1/#comment-153097 beajerry Fri, 13 Jul 2007 07:19:02 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/07/12/scale-model-of-a-hydrogen-atom/#comment-153097 Perhaps a better model would have the electron zooming around like a crazy moon? Perhaps a better model would have the electron zooming around like a crazy moon?

]]> By: Anthony http://www.neatorama.com/2007/07/12/scale-model-of-a-hydrogen-atom/comment-page-1/#comment-152633 Anthony Thu, 12 Jul 2007 23:09:10 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/07/12/scale-model-of-a-hydrogen-atom/#comment-152633 Yeah, Solo nailed it. The model is misleading and actually incorrect. Kids are taught the Rutherford atomic model early on, because it's easy to comprehend. A clear analogy to the earth and the moon can be drawn. But it's wrong. Later, students learn other atomic models such as Bohr's, but they're just models. They can accurately describe what happens to a point, but they're not actually what's happening by a long shot. What's actually going on is way more mind-boggling than "there's a lot of space in an atom." Yeah, Solo nailed it. The model is misleading and actually incorrect.

Kids are taught the Rutherford atomic model early on, because it’s easy to comprehend. A clear analogy to the earth and the moon can be drawn. But it’s wrong.

Later, students learn other atomic models such as Bohr’s, but they’re just models. They can accurately describe what happens to a point, but they’re not actually what’s happening by a long shot.

What’s actually going on is way more mind-boggling than “there’s a lot of space in an atom.”

]]> By: Solo http://www.neatorama.com/2007/07/12/scale-model-of-a-hydrogen-atom/comment-page-1/#comment-152590 Solo Thu, 12 Jul 2007 22:12:18 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/07/12/scale-model-of-a-hydrogen-atom/#comment-152590 It's not really empty. It's an electron cloud. It's not like that at a given moment the electron hangs there at a determined spot like a little bead. Quantum physics is impossible to wrap one's mind around, and this kind of demonstration is not helping. At that level of magnification, all you have is a probability of finding something. The electron will not follow a given path around the nucleus, it jumps around randomly. The mental image we have of nucleus = planet and electron = moon is very unfitting. It’s not really empty. It’s an electron cloud. It’s not like that at a given moment the electron hangs there at a determined spot like a little bead.

Quantum physics is impossible to wrap one’s mind around, and this kind of demonstration is not helping.

At that level of magnification, all you have is a probability of finding something. The electron will not follow a given path around the nucleus, it jumps around randomly.

The mental image we have of nucleus = planet and electron = moon is very unfitting.

]]> By: MadMolecule http://www.neatorama.com/2007/07/12/scale-model-of-a-hydrogen-atom/comment-page-1/#comment-152464 MadMolecule Thu, 12 Jul 2007 20:21:39 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/07/12/scale-model-of-a-hydrogen-atom/#comment-152464 John, the description at the left of the page says that if your screen is set to 72 pixels/inch, the page is eleven miles wide. John, the description at the left of the page says that if your screen is set to 72 pixels/inch, the page is eleven miles wide.

]]> By: IV http://www.neatorama.com/2007/07/12/scale-model-of-a-hydrogen-atom/comment-page-1/#comment-152359 IV Thu, 12 Jul 2007 17:36:21 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/07/12/scale-model-of-a-hydrogen-atom/#comment-152359 It's not "empty". It's filled with virtual pairs, various force mediators, neutrinos, etc. It’s not “empty”. It’s filled with virtual pairs, various force mediators, neutrinos, etc.

]]> By: SenorMysterioso http://www.neatorama.com/2007/07/12/scale-model-of-a-hydrogen-atom/comment-page-1/#comment-152328 SenorMysterioso Thu, 12 Jul 2007 17:02:37 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/07/12/scale-model-of-a-hydrogen-atom/#comment-152328 and yet I still have not mastered walking through walls and yet I still have not mastered walking through walls

]]> By: tanner http://www.neatorama.com/2007/07/12/scale-model-of-a-hydrogen-atom/comment-page-1/#comment-152324 tanner Thu, 12 Jul 2007 17:00:32 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/07/12/scale-model-of-a-hydrogen-atom/#comment-152324 What's more boggling to me is the "emptiness" between the proton and electron. Is the emptiness truly nothing? I can't seem to wrap my mind around space unoccupied by matter. What’s more boggling to me is the “emptiness” between the proton and electron. Is the emptiness truly nothing? I can’t seem to wrap my mind around space unoccupied by matter.

]]> By: john http://www.neatorama.com/2007/07/12/scale-model-of-a-hydrogen-atom/comment-page-1/#comment-152279 john Thu, 12 Jul 2007 16:06:37 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/07/12/scale-model-of-a-hydrogen-atom/#comment-152279 i know it's demonstrating that you're scrolling through empty space - but it'd help to have some reference markers so you can see how far you've scrolled... i know it’s demonstrating that you’re scrolling through empty space – but it’d help to have some reference markers so you can see how far you’ve scrolled…

]]> By: Zak http://www.neatorama.com/2007/07/12/scale-model-of-a-hydrogen-atom/comment-page-1/#comment-152267 Zak Thu, 12 Jul 2007 15:31:28 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/07/12/scale-model-of-a-hydrogen-atom/#comment-152267 This boggles my brain. Great page! This boggles my brain. Great page!

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