The atom and the Bohr theory of its structure : $b an elementary presentationHolst, Helge
Science
The atom and the Bohr theory of its structure : $b an elementary presentation
Holst, Helge
Atomic theory
In a letter to _Nature_ in September 1913, Fowler objected to
the Bohr theory on the ground that the disputed line-formula did not
exactly correspond to the formula with 4K, but that there was a slight
disagreement. Bohr’s answer was immediate. He called attention to the
fact that—since temporarily he had sought only a first approximation—in
his calculations he had taken the mass of the nucleus to be infinite
in comparison to the mass of the electron, so that the nucleus could
be considered exactly at the focus of the ellipse described by the
electron. In reality, he said, it must be assumed that nucleus and
electron move about their common centre of gravity, just as in the
motion in the solar system it must be assumed that not the centre of
the sun, but the centre of gravity of the entire system remains fixed.
This motion of the nucleus leads to the introduction of a factor M/(M +
_m_) in the expression for the constant K given on p. 129, where
M is the mass of the nucleus and _m_ that of the electron, which
in hydrogen is ¹⁄₁₈₃₅ that of the nucleus. In helium, M is four times
as large as in hydrogen, so that the given factor here has a slightly
different value. The difference in the values for K for the hydrogen
and for the helium spectrum which was found by Fowler, is 0·04 per
cent., which agrees exactly with the theoretical difference.
Bohr thus turned Fowler’s objection into a strong argument in favour of
the theory.
The Introduction of more than one Quantum Number.
During the first years after 1913, Bohr was practically alone in
working out his theory, at that time still assailed by many, and
in showing its application to many problems. In 1916, however, the
theorists in other countries, led by the well-known Munich professor,
Sommerfeld, began to associate themselves with the Bohr theory, and
their investigations gave rise to much essential progress. We shall
here mention some of the most important contributions.
In the theory for the hydrogen spectrum propounded above, it was
assumed that we had to do with a single series of stationary orbits,
each characterized by its quantum number. But as shown by theoretical
investigations each of the stationary orbits must, when more detail is
asked for, also be indicated by an additional quantum number.
[Illustration: FIG. 26.—A compound electron motion produced by the very
rapid rotation of an elliptical orbit.]
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