Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Chemistry => Topic started by: meta-sci on 23/06/2009 09:07:32

Title: Is there momentum of the nucleus within an atom?
Post by: meta-sci on 23/06/2009 09:07:32

Is there momentum of the nucleus within an atom. This is to consider of the atom itself and each of the parts within.

Title: Is there momentum of the nucleus within an atom?
Post by: cyberphlak on 04/09/2009 00:06:28

The short answer would be yes. Where there is movement there is momentum. We know that atoms are not simple electrons and protons anymore. The protons have ever smaller parts. Within the atom is movement and within the elements of an atom there is also movement and even changes. If we refer back to the simple definition of momentum, we see that the only logical answer is YES.

Title: Is there momentum of the nucleus within an atom?
Post by: lightarrow on 04/09/2009 18:52:49

Quote from: meta-sci on 23/06/2009 09:07:32

Is there momentum of the nucleus within an atom. This is to consider of the atom itself and each of the parts within.

You mean relative movement of the nucleus with respect to the electrons, I suppose (otherwise it's simply an atom which moves...)
You have that relative movement when an atom is irradiated with electromagnetic radiation (of the right frequencies), because the oppositely charged nucleus and electrons are displaced one from the other (periodically).