The radius of an electron orbit in helium

In summary, Bohr used the mass of the nucleus in helium to develop a ratio of 4.0016 of the original Rydberg constant for hydrogen by considering the relativistic effect and the quantization of the Bohr-Sommerfeld model. This was later found to be consistent with the solution of the Dirac equation, showing the "accidental coincidences" in the development of quantum mechanics.
  • #1
Kennalj
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can someone explain how bohr used the mass of the nucleus in helium to develop a ratio of 4.0016 of the original rydberg constant for hydrogen? I can't seem to find the proof anywhere, I read vaguely that he found this value by calculating the increased charge in the nucleus and using the mass of the nucleus in his calculation to say that the nucleaus and electron orbit each other around a centre of mass, but whenever i try to do the calculations i keep getting a value of 4.002 instead of 4.0016
 
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  • #2
Kennalj said:
can someone explain how bohr used the mass of the nucleus in helium to develop a ratio of 4.0016 of the original rydberg constant for hydrogen? I can't seem to find the proof anywhere, I read vaguely that he found this value by calculating the increased charge in the nucleus and using the mass of the nucleus in his calculation to say that the nucleaus and electron orbit each other around a centre of mass, but whenever i try to do the calculations i keep getting a value of 4.002 instead of 4.0016

I'm a little in a hurry now, so I'm sorry if I misunderstand you.

You mean the helium ion (He+)?
In the helium ion, the relativistic effect is a little bigger than the hydrogen
(the relativistic energy change: He+ --- about 0.0026eV, H ---- 0.000...eV,
So the neutral He is between them.)

Did you consider this relativistic effect when calculating the energy?
 
  • #3
ytuab said:
I'm a little in a hurry now, so I'm sorry if I misunderstand you.

You mean the helium ion (He+)?
In the helium ion, the relativistic effect is a little bigger than the hydrogen
(the relativistic energy change: He+ --- about 0.0026eV, H ---- 0.000...eV,
So the neutral He is between them.)

Did you consider this relativistic effect when calculating the energy?

yea sorry I meant the helium ion. How would you go about applying relativity? Velocity is an unknown at this point isn't it?
 
  • #4
Kennalj said:
yea sorry I meant the helium ion. How would you go about applying relativity? Velocity is an unknown at this point isn't it?

In the Bohr-Sommerfeld model, the electron has the velocity like the classical particle.
But they are not the same things, because the electrons of Bohr model are influenced by the de Broglie's waves.
To know more about the Bohr model, see this thread.

In the Bohr model, the relativistic energy of the hydrogen-like atom is,

[tex] W = m_{0}c^2(1/\sqrt{1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}} -1 ) - k\frac{Ze^2}{r} [/tex]

The concrete calculation method is here (Wikipedia).

The result is,

[tex] W = m_{0}c^2(1 + \frac{\alpha^2 Z^2}{(n_{r}+\sqrt{n_{\phi}^2 - \alpha^2 Z^2})^2})^{-1/2} -m_{0}c^2 [/tex]

Accidentally this solution is completely the same as the solution of the Dirac equation of the hydrogen-like atoms.

In page 272 of the Principle of Quantum Mechanics by Dirac,
--------------------------------------------------------------
This formula gives the discrete energy-levels of the hydrogen spectrum and was first obtained by Sommerfeld working with Bohr's orbit theory.
--------------------------------------------------------------

If you compare this with the solution of the Schrodinger equation (or the usual Bohr model), the relativistic energy change (as I said in #2) is obtained.
In QM, the idea of the velocity is vague due to HUP. But the relativistic effect was actually seen. It's difficult to explain.
 
  • #5
ytuab said:
In page 272 of the Principle of Quantum Mechanics by Dirac.
See page 254 in Dirac Principle of Quantum Mechanics (Oxford (Clarendon Press), 1930). It has only 257 pages. There are several later (four?) editions.
Bob S
 
  • #6
Bob S said:
See page 254 in Dirac Principle of Quantum Mechanics (Oxford (Clarendon Press), 1930). It has only 257 pages. There are several later (four?) editions.
Bob S

Oh, yes. the book I have is the fourth edition (international series of monographs on physics).

this Google book
In the section of "Relativistic theory of the electron".

(You have the 1st edition?)
 
  • #7
ytuab said:
(You have the 1st edition?)
Title page shows "1930"
Preface dated 29 May 1930 initialed PAMD
Inside front cover handwritten name & date Aug '30
Last page (#257) talks about "electron and proton disappearing simultaneously, their energy being emitted in the form of radiation."
Bob S
 
  • #8
Bob, thanks. You have the 1st one.

Kennalj, I should have added more explanation (the original paper of Sommerfeld explained this in detail).

It is very interesting that the solution of the Bohr-Sommerfeld model which doesn't have the electron spin at all is completely consistent with the solution of the Dirac equation which contain the spin-orbital interaction.
Strange to say, there are many "accidental coincidences" in the development of QM.

About the quantization of Sommerfeld model, see also this thread. (there is a little difference in the expression of the angular momentum).

The first condition is,

[tex]p_{\varphi}=mr^2 \dot{\varphi}, \quad m=\frac{m_{0}}{\sqrt{1-\beta^2}}, \quad \beta=\frac{v}{c} [/tex]

Change the rectangular coodinates into the polar coordinates,

[tex] x = r cos \varphi, \qquad y = r sin \varphi [/tex]

The nucleus is at the origin. The equation of motion is (the Coulomb force condition),

[tex]\frac{d}{dt}m\dot{x}= - \frac{kZe^2}{r^2}cos \varphi, \quad \frac{d}{dt}m\dot{y}= - \frac{kZe^2}{r^2}sin \varphi[/tex]

Using the next condition (the angular momentum [tex]p_{\varphi}[/tex] is the constant),

[tex]\frac{d}{dt}= \frac{d\varphi}{dt} \frac{d}{d\varphi}= \frac{p_{\varphi}}{mr^2} \frac{d}{d\varphi}[/tex]

So the equation of the motion is ([tex]u= 1/r[/tex]),

[tex]\frac{d}{dt}m\dot{x}= - \frac{p_{\varphi}^2}{mr^2}(u+\frac{d^2 u}{d\varphi^2}) cos \varphi[/tex]

In the case of y, change the upper cos into sin. Combine this with the Coulomb force condition,

[tex]\frac{d^2 u}{d \varphi^2}+u = \frac{kZe^2 m_{0}}{p_{\varphi}^2} \frac{1}{\sqrt{1-\beta^2}} [/tex]

Using the energy [tex]W[/tex] (of #4) and erase the [tex]\beta[/tex], the solution can be expressed as,

[tex]u = \frac{1}{r} = C (1+ \epsilon cos \gamma \varphi)[/tex]

And, the condition of the quantization is, (using the partial integration)

[tex]\oint p_{r}dr= p_{\varphi} \epsilon^2 \gamma \oint \frac{sin^2 \varphi d \varphi}{(1+\epsilon cos \varphi)^2} = p_{\varphi} \gamma \oint (\frac{1}{1+\epsilon cos \varphi}-1) d\varphi=n_{r} h[/tex]

And, we should use the following mathematical formula, too,

[tex]\frac{1}{2\pi} \oint \frac{d \varphi}{1+ \epsilon cos \varphi} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{1-\epsilon^2}} [/tex]

Combine all, the result of the energy W is obtained.
 
  • #9
[tex]p_{\varphi}=mr^2 \dot{\varphi}, \quad m=\frac{m_{0}}{\sqrt{1-\beta^2}}, \quad \beta=\frac{v}{c} [/tex]

that first bit about momentum, where is that from?
 
  • #10
Kennalj said:
[tex]p_{\varphi}=mr^2 \dot{\varphi}, \quad m=\frac{m_{0}}{\sqrt{1-\beta^2}}, \quad \beta=\frac{v}{c} [/tex]

that first bit about momentum, where is that from?

Kennalji, the angular momentum is,

[tex]p_{\varphi} = p_{\perp} r = m v_{\perp} r = m(r \dot{\varphi})r = mr^2\dot{\varphi}[/tex]

First, there is an Lorentz-invariant equation of motion which is valid irrespective of our observer's motions.

[tex]m_{0} \frac{d\omega_{\mu}(\tau)}{d\tau} = f_{\mu}(\tau) \qquad(1)[/tex]

Here, [tex]\tau[/tex] is the Lorentz-invariant proper time (not t).
[tex]\omega_{\mu}, f_{\mu}[/tex] are the "four-velocity" and "four-vector force" which change as the four-vector under the Lorentz transformation.
These are, (i = x, y, or z)

[tex]\omega_{i}(\tau)=\frac{v_{i}(t)}{\sqrt{1-v^2/c^2}}, \quad f_{i}(\tau)=\frac{F_{i}}{\sqrt{1-v^2/c^2}}[/tex]

Here, [tex]v_{i}[/tex] and [tex]F_{i}[/tex] are the velocity and force of Newtonian mechanics. And,

[tex]\frac{d\omega_{i}(\tau)}{d\tau}=\frac{d\omega_{i}(\tau(t))}{dt}/\frac{d\tau(t)}{dt}=\frac{1}{\sqrt{1-v^2/c^2}} \frac{d}{dt}(\frac{v_{i}(t)}{\sqrt{1-v^2/c^2}}){[/tex]

Substituting this and [tex]f_{i}(\tau)[/tex] into the equation(1), we arrive at the following relation,

[tex]m_{0}\frac{d}{dt}(\frac{v_{i}(t)}{\sqrt{1-v^2/c^2}})= F_{i}[/tex]

This means that we should use [tex]m_{0}\frac{v_{i}(t)}{\sqrt{1-v^2/c^2}}[/tex] instead of [tex] m_{0}v_{i}(t) [/tex] as the momentum(p) which we observe.

The Lorentz contraction of the changing radius(r) seems to occur. But the radius(r) belongs to our inertial system. Unless the radius(r) part of the air is separated from the surrounding air and moves toward us as a independent air stick, the contraction wouldn't occur.

And unless we ourselves move around the nucleus like the electron, we don't need to think about the gravity(which is too weak) and the inertia force like the centrifugal force.
So we can use the usual special relativity in the angular momentum as I said in #8.
 
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  • #11
hi i am a grade 12 student taking physics 30 (grd 12 level in Alberta Canada) can anyone give me e/m? the charge to mass ratio? today is april 25th and on the 27th i will be going to the university of calgary with my class to do the university labs one of them is charge to mass ratio of the electron and the other is a hydrogen balmerseiries lab involving spectrum lines. i am going over one of the pre lab booklets and question two asks me to calculate the accepted value for e/m there are several equations in the booklet but all involve coils or potential difference and i have been given no variables u guys seem to know your **** can u help?
 

FAQ: The radius of an electron orbit in helium

1. What is the radius of an electron orbit in helium?

The radius of an electron orbit in helium is approximately 0.53 Angstroms or 0.053 nanometers. This value is calculated using the Bohr model of the atom, which assumes that electrons move in circular orbits around the nucleus.

2. How is the radius of an electron orbit in helium determined?

The radius of an electron orbit in helium can be determined using the Bohr radius formula, which takes into account the mass of the electron, the charge of the electron and the atomic number of helium. It is also affected by the energy level and quantum number of the electron.

3. Why is the radius of an electron orbit in helium important?

The radius of an electron orbit in helium is important because it provides insight into the structure of the atom and the behavior of electrons. It also helps to determine the energy levels and stability of the atom.

4. How does the radius of an electron orbit in helium compare to other atoms?

The radius of an electron orbit in helium is relatively small compared to other atoms. This is due to the fact that helium has a higher nuclear charge and a smaller number of electrons, resulting in a stronger attraction between the nucleus and the electrons.

5. Can the radius of an electron orbit in helium change?

Yes, the radius of an electron orbit in helium can change. It can be affected by external factors such as temperature and pressure, as well as the addition or removal of electrons from the atom. It can also change as the electron transitions between energy levels.

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