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Quantum Electron Cloud (2D)

A flat cross-section of a hydrogen-like electron's probability cloud, sampled from the same 1s, 2p and d-like radial/angular distributions as the 3D version — switch orbitals and watch the density readout update live.

Quantum Physics2DModerate60 FPS📱 Mobile-adapted⇄ 3D version
2d-quantum-electron-cloud ↗ Open standalone

This 2D companion draws the same 1s, 2p and d-like probability distributions as the 3D electron cloud, but projects each sampled point onto a flat cross-section through the atom's symmetry axis instead of a rotating 3D scene: a side panel lets you switch orbital, scale the sample count and orbital radius, and dial in a slow precessional spin, while a live readout tracks the mean sampled radius and peak radial density so the shape of each orbital's statistics is directly legible.

⚙ Under the hood

Cross-section electron-cloud plot sampling hydrogen-like 1s, 2p and d-like radial/angular probability distributions, with adjustable sample count, orbital scale and precession speed and a live mean-radius / peak-density readout.

electron cloudprobability densityatomic orbitalsquantum mechanics

2D · HTML5 Canvas 2D · 60 FPS target · runs fully client-side, no install

FAQ
What does the 2D electron cloud plot show?

A cross-section through the plane that contains an atom's symmetry axis, with each point a sampled electron position drawn from the orbital's probability density — the same statistical picture quantum mechanics gives instead of a fixed orbit.

Why do 1s, 2p and d-like orbitals look so different?

Each has a different radial and angular probability distribution: 1s falls off isotropically from the nucleus, 2p is a dumbbell shaped by a cos²(θ) angular term, and the d-like mode concentrates density in a ring near the equatorial plane.

How does this differ from the 3D version?

The 3D version orbits a particle cloud in space; this 2D companion projects the same sampling formulas onto a flat cross-section with adjustable sample count, orbital scale and precession speed, plus a live readout of mean radius and peak density.

What did you find?

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