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Re: [Phys-L] the Bohr atom, or not



I'm familiar with the objections to talking about the Bohr model, and I
have some sympathy with these objections. However, it does make vivid some
key concepts, in particular quantized energy levels, associated with
quantized angular momentum, and emission and absorption of energy in the
form of light associated with quantized energy change.

In addition, precisely because the model explains some of the key features
of the phenomena yet is inadequate in ways that can be talked about, it
provides another useful opportunity to talk about the role of models in
physics, a topic that alas is nearly absent from most physics instruction
at all levels yet is absolutely central to the discipline of physics, and
the aspect which is arguably the most important thing we have to offer to
STEM students.

I was entranced to read recently that when Bohr went to talk with
Rutherford about the model (Bohr had earlier worked in Rutherford's group),
Rutherford made a penetrating observation about the model that shows just
how keen Rutherford was. "But Niels, how does the atom in a high-energy
state know whether to drop one level, or two, or....? It must be that there
is something probabilistic about the behavior of atoms!"

Bruce