An atom looks like a very small solar system, with the heavy nucleus in the center and the electrons orbiting it. However, the electrons are in layers and can be simultaneously everywhere that quantum allows.

Is the solar system similar to an atom?

Q: If you compare pictures of an atom and our solar system, it seems that they are both assembled the same way with the sun and nucleus being the same and the electrons and planets orbiting the same. ... In reality, an atom doesn't look anything at all like the solar system.

Who said atom is like a solar system?

A problem raised was: Why are the negatively charged particles not attracted by the positively charged nucleus 4. Rutherford stated that the atom was like a mini solar system and that the electrons orbited the nucleus in a wide orbit. That is why it is known as the planetary model.