If electrons and protons attract each other, how don’t they bump right into each other, instead the electrons spin around the core? At least when something pushes the electron inward?

Question

I’m guessing “sticking right to each other” doesn’t make much sense on the subatomic level but hoping someone can make things clearer.

In: Physics

Answer 1

Electrons are constrained by their wave function. Unlike the billiard ball examples from science class, electrons are not a “tiny little thing”. They are a particle where their quantum nature is more readily apparent than in macro particles, which can “touch” each other when the electrons on their outer surface can effectively repel each other.