The binding energy of a H-atom, considering an electron moving around a fixed nuclei (proton), is B = - (Me^4)/(8n^2ε_0^2h^2). (m = electron mass). If one decides to work in a frame of reference where the electron is at rest, the proton would be moving around it. By similar arguments, the binding energy would be B = - (Me^4)/(8n^2ε_0^2h^2) (M = proton mass) This last expression is not correct because ______.

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The binding energy of a H-atom, considering an electron moving around a fixed nuclei (proton), is B = - (Me^4)/(8n^2ε_0^2h^2). (m = electron mass). If one decides to work in a frame of reference where the electron is at rest, the proton would be moving around it. By similar arguments, the binding energy would be B = - (Me^4)/(8n^2ε_0^2h^2) (M = proton mass) This last expression is not correct because the frame in which the electron is at rest is not inertial. Explanation: In a hydrogen atom, electrons revolving around a fixed proton nucleus have some centripetal acceleration. Therefore its frame of reference is non-inertial. If the frame of reference, where the electron is at rest, the given expression is not true as it forms the non-inertial frame of reference.

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