Try it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
An electron is in the level of hydrogen. Its orbit has a radius of and the electron has a speed of . Find the radius, the de Broglie wavelength of the electron, and the number of wavelengths in the circumference. Take and .
An electron wave has . It fits round an orbit only if the circumference holds a whole number of wavelengths: .
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. Radius. . The speed is .
Step 2. Wavelength. .
Step 3. Count. The circumference is . Then .
Check. Exactly wavelengths fit. That is de Broglie's explanation of Bohr's rule.
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