While the Coulomb interaction between an electron and a proton appears simple, it leads to some rather strange concepts.

(a) First, plot the potential energy as a function of the electron's distance from the nucleus, i.e.,V(r) . (Be sure to remember the sign of this potential.)

(b) Discuss the behavior as r->0.

(c) Given your answer to (b) and the fact that lower (more negative) energies are favorable, explain why the electron does not just stay at the nucleus.