7.1 Discrete energy and radioactivity Flashcards
The specific amounts of energy the atoms of an element have are?
Whole number multiples of the lowest energy atom
Energy at a microscopic scale is discrete
Characteristics of emission spectrum
- Continuous
- Lines
What produces electromagnetic waves?
The interaction between electric and magnetic fields at right angles
Why do energy levels converge from n=1 to n=6
Electrons get further away from nucleus. Weaker attraction means less energy needed for transmission
Photon energy(Planck’s equation)
E = hf
∴ E = hc / λ
E = photon energy
h = Planck’s constant
f = frequency
λ= wavelength
c = speed of light
When undisturbed, the position of electrons is?
Ground state (n=1, energy level 1)
What happens when energy is supplied to electrons ( by exposing the gas to an electric field) ?
They become excited and move to higher energy levels
What happens when electrons relax?
They move to lower energy levels and release a photon
The energy of this photon is the energy difference between the two energy levels
What happens when light is passed through a gas?
It is absorbed, leading to the absorption spectrum
