Question.
What are the limitations of Rutherford’s model of the atom?
What are the limitations of Rutherford’s model of the atom?
Solution:
A model of the atom was described by the British physicist Ernest Rutherford in 1911, and is known as the Solar System model. It is very simple, and is still used to teach elementary atomic structure to school children.
• An atom consists of a central nucleus. This nucleus is composed of positively charged protons, and electrically uncharged (neutral) neutrons.
• Negatively charged electrons revolve round the nucleus in definite orbits.
• The orbits themselves can be at any distance from the nucleus.
• In any atom, the number of protons is equal to the number of electrons, and hence it is electrically neutral.
A model of the atom was described by the British physicist Ernest Rutherford in 1911, and is known as the Solar System model. It is very simple, and is still used to teach elementary atomic structure to school children.
• An atom consists of a central nucleus. This nucleus is composed of positively charged protons, and electrically uncharged (neutral) neutrons.
• Negatively charged electrons revolve round the nucleus in definite orbits.
• The orbits themselves can be at any distance from the nucleus.
• In any atom, the number of protons is equal to the number of electrons, and hence it is electrically neutral.