Question

How are the Bohr model and the Rutherford model of the atom similar? How are they different?

Short answer

Both of these models advocated that the electron revolves around the nucleus and occupies a large space in an atom. Rutherford’s model could not explain the presence of the discrete energy level but Bohr’s model did. Also, the Bohr model established the relation between orbital size and energy of the orbitals which the Rutherford model couldn’t.

Step-by-step solution

describing similarities between the Bohr model and Rutherford model of the atom

Some similarities between these two models are,

• Bohr and Rutherford advocated that an electron revolving around the nucleus in an atom.
• They both stated that an electron occupies a large space of an atom.
• Bohr’s model was an expansion and improvement of Rutherford’s model.

determining differences between the Bohr model and Rutherford model of the atom   

Some differences between the Bohr model and the Rutherford model of atom are,

• Rutherford’srd model could not explain the relation between orbital size and the energy oforbitals. Whereas Bohr’s model elaborated that the smallest orbital has the lowest energy.
• Rutherford model couldn’t describe the presence of discrete energy levels whereas the Bohr model elucidated them very well.