In 1925 Heisenberg made a new attempt, on entirely novel lines, to obtain an explanation of atomic spectra. Working in collaboration with Bohr, he had come to the conclusion that the imperfections of Bohr's theory had been a consequence of assuming too simple a model for the atom. For Bohr had not only assumed that the atom consisted of particles moving through space and time, but also that the particles inside atoms were of the same kind as the electrons outside atoms.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Heisenberg and Bohr concluded that Bohr's atomic theory failed because it assumed too simple a model of particles moving in space and time.
- In plain terms
- Bohr's theory was wrong because it treated atoms too simply like regular particles.
- What can you take from it?
- Simpler models may fail to explain complex atomic behavior.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why do scientific models need updating?
- How simple is too simple for a model?
Another view
The quote assumes knowledge of Bohr's specific model.
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