Electron Energy in a Nucleus the radii of atomic nuclei are of the order of 5.0 x 10-15 m.
(a) Estimate the minimum uncertainty in the momentum of an electron if it is confined within a nucleus.
(b) Take this uncertainty in momentum to be an estimate of the magnitude of the momentum. Use the relativistic relationship between energy and momentum, Eq. (37.39), to obtain an estimate of the kinetic energy of an electron confined within a nucleus.
(c) Compare the energy calculated in part (b) to the magnitude of the Coulomb potential energy of a proton and an electron separated by 5.0 x 10-15 m. On the basis of your result, could there be electrons within the nucleus?