Question

Once Thomson showed that atoms consist of very light negative electrons and a much more massive positive charge, why didn’t physicists immediately consider a solar-system model of electrons orbiting a positive nucleus? Why would physicists in $1900$object to such a model?

Short answer

Scientists at that time could not imagine the extremely high density of the tiny nucleus. They also had no idea what would hold protons together in a nucleus when there was a known repulsive force between protons.

Step-by-step solution

Given Information

It is given that once Thomson showed that atoms consist of very light negative electrons and a much more massive positive charge.

Explanation

Physicists immediately didn't consider a solar-system model of electrons orbiting a positive nucleus because Scientists at that time could not imagine the extremely high density of the tiny nucleus .they also had no idea what would hold protons together in a nucleus when there was a known repulsive force between protons. In addition, classical electromagnetic theory predicted that an accelerating electron would radiate away all its energy in microseconds and collapse into the nucleus.