Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Left Hand, Right Hand Otherwise Solo...

Magnetic interaction plays a role in the capture of an electron by a nucleus to form atom.  The following diagram illustrates a bias in sense of the rotation of the electron on its approach to the nucleus.


On approach to the positive charge, if the electron is in clockwise rotation about its helix path, the resulting magnetic field will repulse the positive charge.  If on the other hand, the electron is rotating in anticlockwise, the resulting magnetic field will add to the attractive electrostatic force between the positive and negative charge..

It is thus more probable that the electron is captured into orbit when it is rotating in anticlockwise on approach to the positive nucleus.