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PHYSICS, M8 2025 HSC 27

Outline TWO ways in which Schrödinger’s model of electron behaviour is different from electron behaviour in the atomic models of Rutherford and Bohr.   (3 marks)

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Answers could include two of the following:

Electron location

  • Bohr/Rutherford: Electrons move in fixed paths (or orbits) around the nucleus.
  • Schrödinger: Electrons exist in orbitals, which are regions where they are likely to be found.

Nature of the electron

  • Bohr/Rutherford: Electrons are treated mainly as particles.
  • Schrödinger: Electrons behave as waves, following de Broglie’s wave ideas.

Certainty vs probability (extra option)

  • Bohr/Rutherford: The position of an electron can be predicted exactly in its orbit.
  • Schrödinger: Only the probability of an electron’s position can be known, not its exact location.
Show Worked Solution

Answers could include two of the following:

Electron location

  • Bohr/Rutherford: Electrons move in fixed paths (or orbits) around the nucleus.
  • Schrödinger: Electrons exist in orbitals, which are regions where they are likely to be found.

Nature of the electron

  • Bohr/Rutherford: Electrons are treated mainly as particles.
  • Schrödinger: Electrons behave as waves, following de Broglie’s wave ideas.

Certainty vs probability (extra option)

  • Bohr/Rutherford: The position of an electron can be predicted exactly in its orbit.
  • Schrödinger: Only the probability of an electron’s position can be known, not its exact location.

PHYSICS, M8 2021 HSC 29

Bohr, de Broglie and Schrödinger EACH proposed a model for the structure of the atom.

How does the nature of the electron proposed in each of the three models differ?   (5 marks)

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  • Bohr’s model of the atom proposed that the electron was a negatively charged particle which orbits the nucleus in a circular path at discrete, quantised energy levels.
  • De Broglie’s model proposed that electrons had a dual wave/particle nature existing as stable standing waves around the nucleus.
  • Schrödinger’s quantum mechanical model described electrons as having a wave nature and existing as orbitals. His equation described a cloud surrounding the nucleus in which electrons had a high probability to be found.
Show Worked Solution

  • Bohr’s model of the atom proposed that the electron was a negatively charged particle which orbits the nucleus in a circular path at discrete, quantised energy levels.
  • De Broglie’s model proposed that electrons had a dual wave-particle nature existing as stable standing waves around the nucleus.
  • Schrödinger’s quantum mechanical model described electrons as having a wave nature and existing as orbitals. His equation described a cloud surrounding the nucleus in which electrons had a high probability to be found.


♦ Mean mark 49%.