What is the probability for an electron of an atom on Earth to lie outside the galaxy?
up vote
4
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In this youtube video it is claimed that electrons orbit their atom's nucleus not in well-known fixed orbits, but within "clouds of probability", i.e., spaces around the nucleus where they can lie with a probability of 95%, called "orbitals".
It is also claimed that the further away one looks for the electron from the nucleus, the more this probability decreases, yet it never reaches 0. The authors of the video conclude that there is a non-zero probability for an atom to have its electron "on the other side of the Universe".
If this is true, then there must be a portion of all atoms on Earth whose electron lies outside the Milky Way. Which portion of atoms has this property?
quantum-mechanics electrons wavefunction probability estimation
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
In this youtube video it is claimed that electrons orbit their atom's nucleus not in well-known fixed orbits, but within "clouds of probability", i.e., spaces around the nucleus where they can lie with a probability of 95%, called "orbitals".
It is also claimed that the further away one looks for the electron from the nucleus, the more this probability decreases, yet it never reaches 0. The authors of the video conclude that there is a non-zero probability for an atom to have its electron "on the other side of the Universe".
If this is true, then there must be a portion of all atoms on Earth whose electron lies outside the Milky Way. Which portion of atoms has this property?
quantum-mechanics electrons wavefunction probability estimation
10
What is said in the video is true, but... remember that the atomic theory is just that: a theory. The theory itself predicts that perturbations will have a really big influence on the results. From here to outside of the milky way there are so many perturbations that the model would fail. Does it really make sense to calculate such probability if anything can capture that electron much more easily?
– FGSUZ
17 hours ago
1
@FGSUZ please post that as an answer, as it is the most correct thing written on this page so far. The $10^{-31}$ estimates posted below are silly for exactly the reason explained in your comment.
– DanielSank
16 hours ago
@DanielSank Thank you, I'm flattered, but do you really think it's an answer? I don't know if it actually "answers" the question..
– FGSUZ
16 hours ago
1
@FGSUZ, yes, I really think it answers the question.
– DanielSank
16 hours ago
Okay then, I just did.
– FGSUZ
6 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
In this youtube video it is claimed that electrons orbit their atom's nucleus not in well-known fixed orbits, but within "clouds of probability", i.e., spaces around the nucleus where they can lie with a probability of 95%, called "orbitals".
It is also claimed that the further away one looks for the electron from the nucleus, the more this probability decreases, yet it never reaches 0. The authors of the video conclude that there is a non-zero probability for an atom to have its electron "on the other side of the Universe".
If this is true, then there must be a portion of all atoms on Earth whose electron lies outside the Milky Way. Which portion of atoms has this property?
quantum-mechanics electrons wavefunction probability estimation
In this youtube video it is claimed that electrons orbit their atom's nucleus not in well-known fixed orbits, but within "clouds of probability", i.e., spaces around the nucleus where they can lie with a probability of 95%, called "orbitals".
It is also claimed that the further away one looks for the electron from the nucleus, the more this probability decreases, yet it never reaches 0. The authors of the video conclude that there is a non-zero probability for an atom to have its electron "on the other side of the Universe".
If this is true, then there must be a portion of all atoms on Earth whose electron lies outside the Milky Way. Which portion of atoms has this property?
quantum-mechanics electrons wavefunction probability estimation
quantum-mechanics electrons wavefunction probability estimation
edited 2 hours ago
knzhou
40.1k11113194
40.1k11113194
asked 18 hours ago
Klangen
1244
1244
10
What is said in the video is true, but... remember that the atomic theory is just that: a theory. The theory itself predicts that perturbations will have a really big influence on the results. From here to outside of the milky way there are so many perturbations that the model would fail. Does it really make sense to calculate such probability if anything can capture that electron much more easily?
– FGSUZ
17 hours ago
1
@FGSUZ please post that as an answer, as it is the most correct thing written on this page so far. The $10^{-31}$ estimates posted below are silly for exactly the reason explained in your comment.
– DanielSank
16 hours ago
@DanielSank Thank you, I'm flattered, but do you really think it's an answer? I don't know if it actually "answers" the question..
– FGSUZ
16 hours ago
1
@FGSUZ, yes, I really think it answers the question.
– DanielSank
16 hours ago
Okay then, I just did.
– FGSUZ
6 hours ago
add a comment |
10
What is said in the video is true, but... remember that the atomic theory is just that: a theory. The theory itself predicts that perturbations will have a really big influence on the results. From here to outside of the milky way there are so many perturbations that the model would fail. Does it really make sense to calculate such probability if anything can capture that electron much more easily?
– FGSUZ
17 hours ago
1
@FGSUZ please post that as an answer, as it is the most correct thing written on this page so far. The $10^{-31}$ estimates posted below are silly for exactly the reason explained in your comment.
– DanielSank
16 hours ago
@DanielSank Thank you, I'm flattered, but do you really think it's an answer? I don't know if it actually "answers" the question..
– FGSUZ
16 hours ago
1
@FGSUZ, yes, I really think it answers the question.
– DanielSank
16 hours ago
Okay then, I just did.
– FGSUZ
6 hours ago
10
10
What is said in the video is true, but... remember that the atomic theory is just that: a theory. The theory itself predicts that perturbations will have a really big influence on the results. From here to outside of the milky way there are so many perturbations that the model would fail. Does it really make sense to calculate such probability if anything can capture that electron much more easily?
– FGSUZ
17 hours ago
What is said in the video is true, but... remember that the atomic theory is just that: a theory. The theory itself predicts that perturbations will have a really big influence on the results. From here to outside of the milky way there are so many perturbations that the model would fail. Does it really make sense to calculate such probability if anything can capture that electron much more easily?
– FGSUZ
17 hours ago
1
1
@FGSUZ please post that as an answer, as it is the most correct thing written on this page so far. The $10^{-31}$ estimates posted below are silly for exactly the reason explained in your comment.
– DanielSank
16 hours ago
@FGSUZ please post that as an answer, as it is the most correct thing written on this page so far. The $10^{-31}$ estimates posted below are silly for exactly the reason explained in your comment.
– DanielSank
16 hours ago
@DanielSank Thank you, I'm flattered, but do you really think it's an answer? I don't know if it actually "answers" the question..
– FGSUZ
16 hours ago
@DanielSank Thank you, I'm flattered, but do you really think it's an answer? I don't know if it actually "answers" the question..
– FGSUZ
16 hours ago
1
1
@FGSUZ, yes, I really think it answers the question.
– DanielSank
16 hours ago
@FGSUZ, yes, I really think it answers the question.
– DanielSank
16 hours ago
Okay then, I just did.
– FGSUZ
6 hours ago
Okay then, I just did.
– FGSUZ
6 hours ago
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
up vote
14
down vote
accepted
The quantity you should consider first is the Bohr radius, this tells you an idea of the relevant atomic scales,
$$
a_0 = 5.29times 10^{-11} ~{rm m}
$$
For hydrogen (the most abundant element), in its ground state, the probability of finding an electron beyond a distance $r$ from the center looks something like (for $r gg a_0$)
$$
P(r) approx e^{-2r/a_0}
$$
Now let's plug in some numbers. The virial radius of the Milky Way is around $200 ~{rm kpc} approx 6times 10^{21}~{rm m}$, so the probability of finding an electron outside the galaxy from an atom on Earth is around
$$
P sim e^{-10^{32}}
$$
that's ... pretty low. But you don't need to go that far to show this effect, the probability that an electron of an atom in your foot is found in your hand is $sim 10^{-10^{10}}$.
I think it's also important to note that this prediction utilizes the Schrodinger equation, which is non-relativistic. My math isn't up to scratch enough to properly interpret the Dirac equation solution of the hydrogen atom, but my hunch is that it might make such a big jump impossible to avoid causality violations.
– el duderino
1 hour ago
@elduderino Arguably the "jump" doesn't transmit any information faster than the speed of light (since the transmitter can't force it deterministically, and the receiver can't determine where it came from), so causality isn't necessarily violated.
– Ryan
5 mins ago
add a comment |
up vote
11
down vote
What is said in the video is true, but... remember that the atomic theory is just that: a theory. The theory itself predicts that perturbations will have a really big influence on the results.
Take into account that the models are based on hypothesis, which are easily violated. For example, spherical symmetry, which allows finding the solution in the hydrogen atom (or more accurately, the Coulomb's potential in QM). Reality is never like that, but we can say that "it is close enough" if the atom is far enough from other objects.
Nevertheless, from here to outside of the milky way there are so many perturbations that the model would just fail. You can say that there's a level $n=1324791$, but there are so many particles out there that the effect of your atom is absolutely beaten by ANY other.
So, does it really make sense to calculate such probability if anything can capture that electron much more easily? I don't think so.
add a comment |
up vote
5
down vote
Given a single electron, what is the probability that it is found outside the Milky Way?
We can estimate it using the ground state wave function of the Hydrogen atom,
$$ psi_{100} = frac{1}{sqrt{pi a_0^3}} e^{-r/a_0} , $$
where $a_0 approx 5*10^{-11}, m$ is the Bohr radius.
$|psi|^2$ is the probability density, integrating gives
$$ p_1 = int_R^infty |psi_{100}|^2 4pi r^2, dr = frac{e^{-2R/a_0}(a_0^2 + 2a_0 R + 2R^2)}{a_0^2} . $$
Plugging in $R approx 5*10^{20}, m$ the radius of the Milky Way, we get
$$ p_1 approx exp(-2*10^{31}) approx 10^{-10^{31}} . $$
This number is so small, it is hardly possible to grasp really how small it is.
There are a lot of electrons in the Earth - about $N = 10^{51}$ - but the number of electrons is utterly tiny compared to these odds. The chance that any electron is found outside the milky way is
$$ p = 1 - (1 - p_1)^N approx N p_1 = 10^{51} , cdot , 10^{-10^{31}} $$
which doesn't even make any dent.
Since $10^{-51} approx e^{-117}$, can I estimate that the electron furthest from its nucleus in the all the Earth is about 117 Bohr radii away, on average, at any given time. Roughly?
– JEB
15 hours ago
add a comment |
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
14
down vote
accepted
The quantity you should consider first is the Bohr radius, this tells you an idea of the relevant atomic scales,
$$
a_0 = 5.29times 10^{-11} ~{rm m}
$$
For hydrogen (the most abundant element), in its ground state, the probability of finding an electron beyond a distance $r$ from the center looks something like (for $r gg a_0$)
$$
P(r) approx e^{-2r/a_0}
$$
Now let's plug in some numbers. The virial radius of the Milky Way is around $200 ~{rm kpc} approx 6times 10^{21}~{rm m}$, so the probability of finding an electron outside the galaxy from an atom on Earth is around
$$
P sim e^{-10^{32}}
$$
that's ... pretty low. But you don't need to go that far to show this effect, the probability that an electron of an atom in your foot is found in your hand is $sim 10^{-10^{10}}$.
I think it's also important to note that this prediction utilizes the Schrodinger equation, which is non-relativistic. My math isn't up to scratch enough to properly interpret the Dirac equation solution of the hydrogen atom, but my hunch is that it might make such a big jump impossible to avoid causality violations.
– el duderino
1 hour ago
@elduderino Arguably the "jump" doesn't transmit any information faster than the speed of light (since the transmitter can't force it deterministically, and the receiver can't determine where it came from), so causality isn't necessarily violated.
– Ryan
5 mins ago
add a comment |
up vote
14
down vote
accepted
The quantity you should consider first is the Bohr radius, this tells you an idea of the relevant atomic scales,
$$
a_0 = 5.29times 10^{-11} ~{rm m}
$$
For hydrogen (the most abundant element), in its ground state, the probability of finding an electron beyond a distance $r$ from the center looks something like (for $r gg a_0$)
$$
P(r) approx e^{-2r/a_0}
$$
Now let's plug in some numbers. The virial radius of the Milky Way is around $200 ~{rm kpc} approx 6times 10^{21}~{rm m}$, so the probability of finding an electron outside the galaxy from an atom on Earth is around
$$
P sim e^{-10^{32}}
$$
that's ... pretty low. But you don't need to go that far to show this effect, the probability that an electron of an atom in your foot is found in your hand is $sim 10^{-10^{10}}$.
I think it's also important to note that this prediction utilizes the Schrodinger equation, which is non-relativistic. My math isn't up to scratch enough to properly interpret the Dirac equation solution of the hydrogen atom, but my hunch is that it might make such a big jump impossible to avoid causality violations.
– el duderino
1 hour ago
@elduderino Arguably the "jump" doesn't transmit any information faster than the speed of light (since the transmitter can't force it deterministically, and the receiver can't determine where it came from), so causality isn't necessarily violated.
– Ryan
5 mins ago
add a comment |
up vote
14
down vote
accepted
up vote
14
down vote
accepted
The quantity you should consider first is the Bohr radius, this tells you an idea of the relevant atomic scales,
$$
a_0 = 5.29times 10^{-11} ~{rm m}
$$
For hydrogen (the most abundant element), in its ground state, the probability of finding an electron beyond a distance $r$ from the center looks something like (for $r gg a_0$)
$$
P(r) approx e^{-2r/a_0}
$$
Now let's plug in some numbers. The virial radius of the Milky Way is around $200 ~{rm kpc} approx 6times 10^{21}~{rm m}$, so the probability of finding an electron outside the galaxy from an atom on Earth is around
$$
P sim e^{-10^{32}}
$$
that's ... pretty low. But you don't need to go that far to show this effect, the probability that an electron of an atom in your foot is found in your hand is $sim 10^{-10^{10}}$.
The quantity you should consider first is the Bohr radius, this tells you an idea of the relevant atomic scales,
$$
a_0 = 5.29times 10^{-11} ~{rm m}
$$
For hydrogen (the most abundant element), in its ground state, the probability of finding an electron beyond a distance $r$ from the center looks something like (for $r gg a_0$)
$$
P(r) approx e^{-2r/a_0}
$$
Now let's plug in some numbers. The virial radius of the Milky Way is around $200 ~{rm kpc} approx 6times 10^{21}~{rm m}$, so the probability of finding an electron outside the galaxy from an atom on Earth is around
$$
P sim e^{-10^{32}}
$$
that's ... pretty low. But you don't need to go that far to show this effect, the probability that an electron of an atom in your foot is found in your hand is $sim 10^{-10^{10}}$.
edited 1 hour ago
Nayuki
13826
13826
answered 17 hours ago
caverac
4,6132620
4,6132620
I think it's also important to note that this prediction utilizes the Schrodinger equation, which is non-relativistic. My math isn't up to scratch enough to properly interpret the Dirac equation solution of the hydrogen atom, but my hunch is that it might make such a big jump impossible to avoid causality violations.
– el duderino
1 hour ago
@elduderino Arguably the "jump" doesn't transmit any information faster than the speed of light (since the transmitter can't force it deterministically, and the receiver can't determine where it came from), so causality isn't necessarily violated.
– Ryan
5 mins ago
add a comment |
I think it's also important to note that this prediction utilizes the Schrodinger equation, which is non-relativistic. My math isn't up to scratch enough to properly interpret the Dirac equation solution of the hydrogen atom, but my hunch is that it might make such a big jump impossible to avoid causality violations.
– el duderino
1 hour ago
@elduderino Arguably the "jump" doesn't transmit any information faster than the speed of light (since the transmitter can't force it deterministically, and the receiver can't determine where it came from), so causality isn't necessarily violated.
– Ryan
5 mins ago
I think it's also important to note that this prediction utilizes the Schrodinger equation, which is non-relativistic. My math isn't up to scratch enough to properly interpret the Dirac equation solution of the hydrogen atom, but my hunch is that it might make such a big jump impossible to avoid causality violations.
– el duderino
1 hour ago
I think it's also important to note that this prediction utilizes the Schrodinger equation, which is non-relativistic. My math isn't up to scratch enough to properly interpret the Dirac equation solution of the hydrogen atom, but my hunch is that it might make such a big jump impossible to avoid causality violations.
– el duderino
1 hour ago
@elduderino Arguably the "jump" doesn't transmit any information faster than the speed of light (since the transmitter can't force it deterministically, and the receiver can't determine where it came from), so causality isn't necessarily violated.
– Ryan
5 mins ago
@elduderino Arguably the "jump" doesn't transmit any information faster than the speed of light (since the transmitter can't force it deterministically, and the receiver can't determine where it came from), so causality isn't necessarily violated.
– Ryan
5 mins ago
add a comment |
up vote
11
down vote
What is said in the video is true, but... remember that the atomic theory is just that: a theory. The theory itself predicts that perturbations will have a really big influence on the results.
Take into account that the models are based on hypothesis, which are easily violated. For example, spherical symmetry, which allows finding the solution in the hydrogen atom (or more accurately, the Coulomb's potential in QM). Reality is never like that, but we can say that "it is close enough" if the atom is far enough from other objects.
Nevertheless, from here to outside of the milky way there are so many perturbations that the model would just fail. You can say that there's a level $n=1324791$, but there are so many particles out there that the effect of your atom is absolutely beaten by ANY other.
So, does it really make sense to calculate such probability if anything can capture that electron much more easily? I don't think so.
add a comment |
up vote
11
down vote
What is said in the video is true, but... remember that the atomic theory is just that: a theory. The theory itself predicts that perturbations will have a really big influence on the results.
Take into account that the models are based on hypothesis, which are easily violated. For example, spherical symmetry, which allows finding the solution in the hydrogen atom (or more accurately, the Coulomb's potential in QM). Reality is never like that, but we can say that "it is close enough" if the atom is far enough from other objects.
Nevertheless, from here to outside of the milky way there are so many perturbations that the model would just fail. You can say that there's a level $n=1324791$, but there are so many particles out there that the effect of your atom is absolutely beaten by ANY other.
So, does it really make sense to calculate such probability if anything can capture that electron much more easily? I don't think so.
add a comment |
up vote
11
down vote
up vote
11
down vote
What is said in the video is true, but... remember that the atomic theory is just that: a theory. The theory itself predicts that perturbations will have a really big influence on the results.
Take into account that the models are based on hypothesis, which are easily violated. For example, spherical symmetry, which allows finding the solution in the hydrogen atom (or more accurately, the Coulomb's potential in QM). Reality is never like that, but we can say that "it is close enough" if the atom is far enough from other objects.
Nevertheless, from here to outside of the milky way there are so many perturbations that the model would just fail. You can say that there's a level $n=1324791$, but there are so many particles out there that the effect of your atom is absolutely beaten by ANY other.
So, does it really make sense to calculate such probability if anything can capture that electron much more easily? I don't think so.
What is said in the video is true, but... remember that the atomic theory is just that: a theory. The theory itself predicts that perturbations will have a really big influence on the results.
Take into account that the models are based on hypothesis, which are easily violated. For example, spherical symmetry, which allows finding the solution in the hydrogen atom (or more accurately, the Coulomb's potential in QM). Reality is never like that, but we can say that "it is close enough" if the atom is far enough from other objects.
Nevertheless, from here to outside of the milky way there are so many perturbations that the model would just fail. You can say that there's a level $n=1324791$, but there are so many particles out there that the effect of your atom is absolutely beaten by ANY other.
So, does it really make sense to calculate such probability if anything can capture that electron much more easily? I don't think so.
answered 6 hours ago
FGSUZ
3,5032522
3,5032522
add a comment |
add a comment |
up vote
5
down vote
Given a single electron, what is the probability that it is found outside the Milky Way?
We can estimate it using the ground state wave function of the Hydrogen atom,
$$ psi_{100} = frac{1}{sqrt{pi a_0^3}} e^{-r/a_0} , $$
where $a_0 approx 5*10^{-11}, m$ is the Bohr radius.
$|psi|^2$ is the probability density, integrating gives
$$ p_1 = int_R^infty |psi_{100}|^2 4pi r^2, dr = frac{e^{-2R/a_0}(a_0^2 + 2a_0 R + 2R^2)}{a_0^2} . $$
Plugging in $R approx 5*10^{20}, m$ the radius of the Milky Way, we get
$$ p_1 approx exp(-2*10^{31}) approx 10^{-10^{31}} . $$
This number is so small, it is hardly possible to grasp really how small it is.
There are a lot of electrons in the Earth - about $N = 10^{51}$ - but the number of electrons is utterly tiny compared to these odds. The chance that any electron is found outside the milky way is
$$ p = 1 - (1 - p_1)^N approx N p_1 = 10^{51} , cdot , 10^{-10^{31}} $$
which doesn't even make any dent.
Since $10^{-51} approx e^{-117}$, can I estimate that the electron furthest from its nucleus in the all the Earth is about 117 Bohr radii away, on average, at any given time. Roughly?
– JEB
15 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
5
down vote
Given a single electron, what is the probability that it is found outside the Milky Way?
We can estimate it using the ground state wave function of the Hydrogen atom,
$$ psi_{100} = frac{1}{sqrt{pi a_0^3}} e^{-r/a_0} , $$
where $a_0 approx 5*10^{-11}, m$ is the Bohr radius.
$|psi|^2$ is the probability density, integrating gives
$$ p_1 = int_R^infty |psi_{100}|^2 4pi r^2, dr = frac{e^{-2R/a_0}(a_0^2 + 2a_0 R + 2R^2)}{a_0^2} . $$
Plugging in $R approx 5*10^{20}, m$ the radius of the Milky Way, we get
$$ p_1 approx exp(-2*10^{31}) approx 10^{-10^{31}} . $$
This number is so small, it is hardly possible to grasp really how small it is.
There are a lot of electrons in the Earth - about $N = 10^{51}$ - but the number of electrons is utterly tiny compared to these odds. The chance that any electron is found outside the milky way is
$$ p = 1 - (1 - p_1)^N approx N p_1 = 10^{51} , cdot , 10^{-10^{31}} $$
which doesn't even make any dent.
Since $10^{-51} approx e^{-117}$, can I estimate that the electron furthest from its nucleus in the all the Earth is about 117 Bohr radii away, on average, at any given time. Roughly?
– JEB
15 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
5
down vote
up vote
5
down vote
Given a single electron, what is the probability that it is found outside the Milky Way?
We can estimate it using the ground state wave function of the Hydrogen atom,
$$ psi_{100} = frac{1}{sqrt{pi a_0^3}} e^{-r/a_0} , $$
where $a_0 approx 5*10^{-11}, m$ is the Bohr radius.
$|psi|^2$ is the probability density, integrating gives
$$ p_1 = int_R^infty |psi_{100}|^2 4pi r^2, dr = frac{e^{-2R/a_0}(a_0^2 + 2a_0 R + 2R^2)}{a_0^2} . $$
Plugging in $R approx 5*10^{20}, m$ the radius of the Milky Way, we get
$$ p_1 approx exp(-2*10^{31}) approx 10^{-10^{31}} . $$
This number is so small, it is hardly possible to grasp really how small it is.
There are a lot of electrons in the Earth - about $N = 10^{51}$ - but the number of electrons is utterly tiny compared to these odds. The chance that any electron is found outside the milky way is
$$ p = 1 - (1 - p_1)^N approx N p_1 = 10^{51} , cdot , 10^{-10^{31}} $$
which doesn't even make any dent.
Given a single electron, what is the probability that it is found outside the Milky Way?
We can estimate it using the ground state wave function of the Hydrogen atom,
$$ psi_{100} = frac{1}{sqrt{pi a_0^3}} e^{-r/a_0} , $$
where $a_0 approx 5*10^{-11}, m$ is the Bohr radius.
$|psi|^2$ is the probability density, integrating gives
$$ p_1 = int_R^infty |psi_{100}|^2 4pi r^2, dr = frac{e^{-2R/a_0}(a_0^2 + 2a_0 R + 2R^2)}{a_0^2} . $$
Plugging in $R approx 5*10^{20}, m$ the radius of the Milky Way, we get
$$ p_1 approx exp(-2*10^{31}) approx 10^{-10^{31}} . $$
This number is so small, it is hardly possible to grasp really how small it is.
There are a lot of electrons in the Earth - about $N = 10^{51}$ - but the number of electrons is utterly tiny compared to these odds. The chance that any electron is found outside the milky way is
$$ p = 1 - (1 - p_1)^N approx N p_1 = 10^{51} , cdot , 10^{-10^{31}} $$
which doesn't even make any dent.
answered 17 hours ago
Noiralef
3,7861927
3,7861927
Since $10^{-51} approx e^{-117}$, can I estimate that the electron furthest from its nucleus in the all the Earth is about 117 Bohr radii away, on average, at any given time. Roughly?
– JEB
15 hours ago
add a comment |
Since $10^{-51} approx e^{-117}$, can I estimate that the electron furthest from its nucleus in the all the Earth is about 117 Bohr radii away, on average, at any given time. Roughly?
– JEB
15 hours ago
Since $10^{-51} approx e^{-117}$, can I estimate that the electron furthest from its nucleus in the all the Earth is about 117 Bohr radii away, on average, at any given time. Roughly?
– JEB
15 hours ago
Since $10^{-51} approx e^{-117}$, can I estimate that the electron furthest from its nucleus in the all the Earth is about 117 Bohr radii away, on average, at any given time. Roughly?
– JEB
15 hours ago
add a comment |
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10
What is said in the video is true, but... remember that the atomic theory is just that: a theory. The theory itself predicts that perturbations will have a really big influence on the results. From here to outside of the milky way there are so many perturbations that the model would fail. Does it really make sense to calculate such probability if anything can capture that electron much more easily?
– FGSUZ
17 hours ago
1
@FGSUZ please post that as an answer, as it is the most correct thing written on this page so far. The $10^{-31}$ estimates posted below are silly for exactly the reason explained in your comment.
– DanielSank
16 hours ago
@DanielSank Thank you, I'm flattered, but do you really think it's an answer? I don't know if it actually "answers" the question..
– FGSUZ
16 hours ago
1
@FGSUZ, yes, I really think it answers the question.
– DanielSank
16 hours ago
Okay then, I just did.
– FGSUZ
6 hours ago