Question

Which one of the following properties of the electron prevents electrons in an atom from collapsing to the nucleus: (a) negative charge, (b) low mass, (c) high kinetic energy. Justify your answer.

Answer 1

The answer is (C)

The electrons approaches the tiny volume of space occupied by the nucleus, its potential energy dives down towards minus-infinity, and its kinetic energy shoots up towards positive-infinity. This battle of the infinities cannot be won by either side, so a compromise is reached in which theory tells us that the fall in potential energy is just twice the kinetic energy, and the electrons dances at an average distance that corresponds to the bohr radius.