atomic model: Quick Facts

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Engraving by Joseph Ribera depicting Greek philosopher Democritus seated in classical robes, resting one hand on a large globe with books and architectural ruins around him.

Diagram of the Thomson atomic model showing a sphere of positively charged matter with embedded electrons represented as small circles inside the larger orange sphere.

Diagram of the Rutherford atomic model for a neon atom, showing electrons orbiting a central nucleus. An inset magnifies the nucleus, depicting clustered protons and neutrons.

Diagram of the Bohr atomic model for a nitrogen atom, showing a central nucleus with protons and neutrons, surrounded by two rings of orbiting electrons. Labels identify protons, neutrons, electrons, and electron orbits.

Diagram of the Schrodinger model of an atom showing a central nucleus with a diffuse blue electron cloud surrounding it against a black background.

Understanding John Dalton's atomic theory of matter

Investigate varying electron configurations in electron shells around an atom's nucleus

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Topics

Rutherford model Bohr model shell atomic model Thomson atomic model magic number atom nuclear model atomic physics Scientific modeling standard model mathematical model atomic theory cellular automata scientific visualization

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Key People

Neils Bohr

Niels Bohr

Danish physicist

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Arnold Sommerfeld

German physicist