Anyone here into physics?
I read that electrons travel at the speed of light in a vacuum.
What about when an electron is part of an atom?
Is it travelling round in circles at the speed of light?
Quantum physics tells us that the electron's location is uncertain until we measure it so is it simply nonsense to try and talk about an electron's velocity when it is part of an atom?
Is it the case that we have to use the particle model of an electron when it is "free" and the wave model when it is trapped around an atomic nucleus? Does an atomic electron have velocity?
I like the mental image of travelling in circles at the speed of light. Sounds like a 70s prog album title.
I read that electrons travel at the speed of light in a vacuum.
What about when an electron is part of an atom?
Is it travelling round in circles at the speed of light?
Quantum physics tells us that the electron's location is uncertain until we measure it so is it simply nonsense to try and talk about an electron's velocity when it is part of an atom?
Is it the case that we have to use the particle model of an electron when it is "free" and the wave model when it is trapped around an atomic nucleus? Does an atomic electron have velocity?
I like the mental image of travelling in circles at the speed of light. Sounds like a 70s prog album title.