PV Gap

Margaret Said:

what is the main problem with a solar system model of the atom?

We Answered:

The mechanical orbital model of the atom does not account for the energy radiated by the orbiting electron. Accelerating charges (rotational motion is accelerated motion) emits electromagnetic waves, which removes kinetic energy from the charge. The orbital model results in rapid collapse of the electron orbit.

Quantum mechanics eventually solved this, but still retained the possibility of planet-like orbital motion. It was later when the uncertainty principle was discovered, that prevents us knowing where the electron is and its velocity both to high precision. So if the electron is located to within atomic dimensions, it's velocity will be so uncertain, that it can only be considered to exist in a "cloud" around the nucleus.

Mabel Said:

solar system model help?

We Answered:

Use a hangar, tape 9 strands of yarn to the bottom of the hanger. Glue a marble to the yarn on one end of the hanger, paint it yellow if you'd like, it'll be The Sun. Glue a dime to a strand of yarn on the other end of the hanger, that will be Neptune. For Uranus, glue another dime to a strand of yarn 2/3 of the hanger distance from The Sun and 1/3 of the hanger distance from Neptune. For Saturn, use a penny and place it 1/3 away from The Sun and 2/3 away from Neptune. For Jupiter, use a nickel and place it 1/6 away from The Sun and 5/6 away from Neptune. I posted a link below, if your interested in painting the coins the same color as the gas giants are.

For Mars, place a sheet of loose leaf paper on a penny and cut the paper around the penny then paint the penny sized piece of paper red-orange, place Mars 1/3 away from The Sun and 2/3 away from Jupiter. For Earth, place a sheet of blue or light blue construction paper on a nickel and cut the paper around the nickel, place Earth 2/3 away from The Sun and 1/3 away from Mars. For Venus, do the same as with Earth except with a yellow piece of construction paper instead and place it halfway between The Sun and Mars. For Mercury, place a sheet of loose leaf paper on a dime and cut the paper around the dime then paint the dime sized paper gray, place Mercury halfway between The Sun and Venus.

Tell your teacher that the thickness of the coins and paper indicates the size of the planets relative to each other and The Sun (a marble). Tell your teacher you tried to illustrate the relative distance of the planets from each other and The Sun.