text: using what we know of the atom, how can you disprove the following view of the atom? this is a little crazy but here goes.  i met an individual who had his own theory of why electrons can not fall in the nucleus.  here is what he said; as we know electrons are attracted to the nucleus because of electromagnetic force.  we also know that they never reach the nucleus except in extreme occasion like a dying star.  he thinks that the reason why this is the case is because of strong force.  we don't know much about the characteristic of strong force only that it is able to overcome the effects of repulsion between two positive charged particles and that it ranges of effect is very small.  so he thinks that when the electron enters in to the inner most orbital that the strong force keeps it back from actually going into the nucleus.  i couldn't give a reason why that can't be possible so i looking for answer from someone that can explain why that is not possible.    thanks  brad >>> we also know that they never reach the nucleus except in >>> extreme occasion like a dying star.    well that's a major flaw right there. electrons quite often anhihilate themselves via collision with the nucleus. this is the cause of radioactive decay via electron capture. there are literally millions of electrons falling into their atomic nuclei within 3 feet of where you are every second of every day.