In atomic physics, the RutherfordBohr model or Bohr model, introduced by Niels Bohr in 1913,

depicts the atom as a small, positively charged nucleus surrounded by electrons that travel in
circular orbits around the nucleussimilar in structure to the solar system, but with attraction
provided by electrostatic forces

Atomic Excitation and Deexcitation

Atoms can make
transitions between the
orbits allowed by quantum
mechanics by absorbing or
emitting exactly the energy
difference between the
orbits. The following
figure shows an atomic
excitation cause by
absorption of a photon and
an atomic de-excitation
caused by emission of a
photon.
Excitation by absorption of light and de-excitation by emission of
light

In each case the

wavelength of the emitted
or absorbed light is exactly
such that the photon carries the energy difference between the two orbits. This energy may be calculated
by dividing the product of the Planck constant and the speed of light hc by the wavelength of the light).
Thus, an atom can absorb or emit only certain discrete wavelengths (or equivalently, frequencies or
energies).

The Bohr Model is probably familar as the "planetary model" of the atom illustrated in the adjacent
figure that, for example, is used as a symbol for atomic energy (a bit of a misnomer, since the energy in
"atomic energy" is actually the energy of the nucleus, rather than the entire atom). In the Bohr Model the
neutrons and protons (symbolized by red and blue balls in the adjacent image) occupy a dense central
region called the nucleus, and the electrons orbit the nucleus much like planets orbiting the Sun (but the
orbits are not confined to a plane as is approximately true in the Solar System). The adjacent image is not
to scale since in the realistic case the radius of the nucleus is about 100,000 times smaller than the radius
of the entire atom, and as far as we can tell electrons are point particles without a physical extent.
This similarity between a planetary model and the Bohr Model of the atom ultimately arises because the
attractive gravitational force in a solar system and the attractive Coulomb (electrical) force between the
positively charged nucleus and the negatively charged electrons in an atom are mathematically of the
same form. (The formis the same, but the intrinsic strength of the Coulomb interaction is much larger
than that of the gravitational interaction; in addition, there are positive and negative electrical charges so

Quantized energy levels in hydrogen

the Coulomb interaction can be either attractive or repulsive, but gravitation is always attractive in our
present Universe.)
But the Orbits Are Quantized
The basic feature of quantum mechanics that is incorporated in the Bohr Model and that is completely
different from the analogous planetary model is that the energy of the particles in the Bohr atom is
restricted to certain discrete values. One says that the energy is quantized. This means that only certain
orbits with certain radii are allowed; orbits in between simply don't exist.
The adjacent figure shows such quantized energy levels for the hydrogen atom. These levels are labeled
by an integer n that is called a quantum number. The lowest energy state is generally termed the ground
state. The states with successively more energy than the ground state are called the first excited state,
the second excited state, and so on. Beyond an energy called the ionization potential the single electron of
the hydrogen atom is no longer bound to the atom. Then the energy levels form a continuum. In the case
of hydrogen, this continuum starts at 13.6 eV above the ground state ("eV" stands for "electron-Volt", a
common unit of energy in atomic physics).
Although this behavior may seem strange to our minds that are trained from birth by watching
phenomena in the macroscopic world, this is the way things behave in the strange world of the quantum
that holds sway at the atomic level.

Niels Bohr, a Danish scientist, explained this line spectrum while developing
a model for the atom:
The Bohr model shows that the electrons in atoms are in orbits of differing
energy around the nucleus (think of planets orbiting around the sun).

Bohr used the term energy levels (or shells) to describe these orbits of
differing energy. He said that the energy of an electron is quantized,
meaning electrons can have one energy level or another but nothing in
between.

The energy level an electron normally occupies is called its ground state.
But it can move to a higher-energy, less-stable level, or shell, by absorbing
energy. This higher-energy, less-stable state is called the electrons excited
state.

After its done being excited, the electron can return to its original ground
state by releasing the energy it has absorbed, as shown in the diagram
below.
Sometimes the energy released by electrons occupies the portion of the
electromagnetic spectrum (the range of wavelengths of energy) that
humans detect as visible light. Slight variations in the amount of the energy
are seen as light of different colors.
Ground and excited states in the Bohr model.
Bohr found that the closer an electron is to the nucleus, the less energy it
needs, but the farther away it is, the more energy it needs. So Bohr
numbered the electrons energy levels. The higher the energy-level number,
the farther away the electron is from the nucleus and the higher the
energy.
Bohr also found that the various energy levels can hold differing numbers of
electrons: energy level 1 may hold up to 2 electrons; energy level 2 may
hold up to 8 electrons, and so on.

The Bohr model works well for very simple atoms such as hydrogen (which
has 1 electron) but not for more complex atoms. Although the Bohr model is
still used today, especially in elementary textbooks, a more sophisticated
(and complex) model the quantum mechanical model is used much
more frequently.
Early Life:
Niels Henrik David Bohr was born in Copenhagen, Denmark on October 7,
1885 and died in Copenhagen on November 18, 1962. Son of Christian Bohr,
Professor of Physiology at Copenhagen University, Niels, together with his
younger brother Harald, grew up in an atmosphere most favorable to the
development of his genius. His father was an eminent physiologist and was
largely responsible for awakening his interest in physics while still at school,
his mother came from a family distinguished in the field of education.
Education:
Bohr went to Copenhagen University and took his Master's degree in Physics
in 1909 and his Doctor's degree in 1911. Later, he made a stay at
Cambridge University, where he profited by following the experimental work
going on in the Cavendish Laboratory under Sir J.J. Thompson guidance.
Physics Studies and Atomic Model:
In 1913, he passed on to a study of the structure of atoms on the basis of
Rutherford's discovery of the atomic nucleus, and since 1920 (until his
death in 1962) he was at the head of the Institute for Theoretical Physics,
established for him at that university.
During his work on the atomic structure, he succeeded in working out and
presenting a picture of atomic structure that, with later improvements, still
serves as clarification on the physical and chemical properties of the
elements.
bohr_atom.gif
This model of Bohrs idea of the atomic structure shows how it works. The
nucleus lies in the center of the model and is made up of a certain number
of protons and neutrons. Each of the outer layers is made up of a certain
amount of electrons. The limit to how many electrons can be in each
electron shell is shown in the model. This model helps not only with the
theoretical appearance of an atom, but also how different elements
combine.

This models of Bohrs idea of atomic structure shows the model when it is
representing a certain element such as helium in this picture. There are two
protons and two neutrons in the nucleus and there are two electrons that fit
on the first electron shell