Bohr theory

Bohr theory

n.

An early model of atomic structure in which electrons travel around the nucleus in a number of discrete stable orbits determined by quantum conditions.

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[After Niels Henrik David Bohr.]

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Bohr theory

An early model of atomic structure, in which electrons circulate around the nucleus in discrete, stable orbits with different energy levels. This model was the first to predict and explain the atomic spectrum of the hydrogen atom, which arises as the electron jumps from one orbit to another orbit of lower energy, giving off electromagnetic radiation of predictable frequencies. Later models of atomic structure abandoned the idea of circular orbits, and explained the stable orbits as standing waves. See also atomic spectrumorbital

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

Bohr theory - (physics) a theory of atomic structure that combined Rutherford's model with the quantum theory; electrons orbiting a nucleus can only be in certain stationary energy states and light is emitted when electrons jump from one energy state to another natural philosophy, physics - the science of matter and energy and their interactions; "his favorite subject was physics" atomic theory - a theory of the structure of the atom