Niels Bohr: The Birth of the Quantum Atom

In 1913, Niels Bohr introduced a new model of the atom that blended quantum ideas with classical physics.
He proposed that electrons orbit the nucleus in fixed energy levels, not random paths.
Electrons could “jump” between these levels, emitting or absorbing light in the process.
Bohr’s model explained the spectral lines of hydrogen with remarkable accuracy.
His theory introduced the concept of quantized energy, a key step in quantum mechanics.
Bohr argued that atoms are stable because electrons occupy only certain allowed orbits.
He also introduced the principle of complementarity, central to quantum theory.
The Bohr atom became a visual icon in science, often shown with electrons circling like planets.
Though later replaced by modern quantum mechanics, Bohr’s model was a vital stepping stone.
Niels Bohr’s work earned him the 1922 Nobel Prize in Physics and shaped the quantum revolution.