Atomic Physics — From Plum Pudding to Quantum Field Theory
Atomic Models
Thomson → Rutherford → Bohr → SchrödingerEₙ = -13.6 Z²/n² eV
Calculated
Electrons1
Protons1
Net charge0 e
Curriculum
WAECNECOIGCSESATJUPEBA-Level
Teacher notes
- •The atomic model evolved over 120 years. Each model corrected fatal flaws in the previous.
- •Thomson (1897): Discovered the electron. Proposed the "plum pudding" model.
- •Rutherford (1911): Gold foil experiment proved atom is mostly empty space with a tiny nucleus.
- •Bohr (1913): Stationary states, quantized angular momentum L = nℏ, photon emission ΔE = hν.
- •Schrödinger (1926): Wavefunction Ψ gives probability amplitudes. |Ψ|² is probability density.