indicates the ratio between the radii of the rings
. The values of
show that unless the ratio of the radii of the rings is nearly unity the effect of outer rings on the dimensions of inner rings is very small, and that the corresponding effect of inner rings on outer is to neutralize approximately the effect of a part of the charge on the nucleus corresponding to the number of electrons on the ring. The values of
show that the effect of outer rings on the stability of inner—though greater than the effect on the dimensions—is small, but that unless the ratio between the radii is very great, the effect of inner rings on the stability of outer is considerably greater than to neutralize a corresponding part of the charge of the nucleus.
The maximum number of electrons which the innermost ring can contain without being unstable is approximately equal to that calculated on [p. 32.] for a single ring rotating round a nucleus. For the outer rings, however, we get considerably smaller numbers than those determined by the condition (5) if we replace
by the total charge on the nucleus and on the electrons of inner rings.