Question

Write the drawbacks of Rutherford’s model of an atom.

Answer 1

1. Rutherford’s model of an atom resembles the solar system with the nucleus playing the role of the massive sun and the electrons are lighter planets. Thus, according to this model, electrons having negative charges revolve in various orbits around the nucleus. However, the electrons revolving about the nucleus in fixed orbits pose a problem. Such orbital motion is an accelerated motion accompanied by a continuous change in the velocity of the electron as noticed from the continuously changing direction. According to Maxwell’s theory of electromagnetic radiation, accelerated charged particles would emit electromagnetic radiation. Hence, an electron revolving around the nucleus should continuously emit radiation and lose equivalent energy. As a result, the orbit would shrink continuously and the electron would come closer to the nucleus by following a spiral path. It would ultimately fall into the nucleus. Thus, Rutherford’s model has an intrinsic instability of the atom. However, real atoms are stable.
2. Rutherford’s model of an atom does not describe the distribution of electrons around the nucleus and their energies.