The motion of an electron in a hydrogen atom is determined by the forces acting on it. The electron is attracted to the positively charged proton due to the electromagnetic force. This attraction creates a force of attraction between the electron and the proton, known as the electrostatic force.
According to quantum mechanics, the electron in a hydrogen atom exists in certain energy levels or orbitals. These energy levels are quantized, meaning they have specific discrete values. The lowest energy level in a hydrogen atom is called the ground state.
The electron in a hydrogen atom moves around only one proton because the electrostatic attraction between the positively charged proton and the negatively charged electron provides the necessary centripetal force to keep the electron in orbit around the nucleus. The electron's motion is governed by the principles of wave-particle duality, where it exhibits both wave-like and particle-like properties.
The specific orbital that the electron occupies depends on its energy. The most probable location of finding the electron is described by the electron density distribution, which is given by the wave function of the electron. The wave function represents the probability amplitude of finding the electron at different positions around the nucleus.
In summary, the electron in a hydrogen atom moves around only one proton due to the attractive electrostatic force between them, which provides the centripetal force necessary for the electron's orbital motion.