Changes and radiation

Question 1

What happens when electrons jump between energy levels/shells?

Answer 1

radiation is absorbed or emitted

Question 2

electrons and electron shells

Answer 2

electrons can only exist at certain energy levels within shells

the electrons inside the atom can move between the levels or completely leave the atom

Question 3

What happens when energy is absorbed?

Answer 3

electrons move up energy levels

when the correct amount of energy is absorbed

Question 4

What happens when energy is absorbed?

Answer 4

electrons move down energy levels as they emit energy

electrons fall to a lower energy level from a higher one

Question 5

nuclear radiation

Answer 5

energy is emitted from the nuclei of unstable atoms

protons and neutrons occupy energy levels in the nucleus, the same way electrons do in the atom

when energy changes occur in the nucleus, high energy gamma rays are emitted

they can be emitted over a large range of frequencies

Question 6

Explain the energy changes that occur within the electron levels of the atom [3]

Answer 6

electrons can move between energy levels if they absorb or emit EM radiation

when they absorb EM radiation they move up energy levels, and when they emit they move down energy levels

Question 7

Describe what happens when electrons:

a) absorb EM radiation [2]
b) emit EM radiation [2]

Answer 7

a) move from a lower to a higher energy level within the atom
the difference in energy between the levels is equal to the energy of the EM radiation

b) move from a higher to a lower energy level in the atom
the difference in energy between the levels is equal to the energy of the EM radiation

Question 8

Explain why visible light is emitted when electrons move between shells but gamma rays are emitted when there are changes in the nucleus [4]

Answer 8

energy difference between energy levels in the shells or orbits of electrons is much lower compared with energy differences in the nuclei of atoms when nuclear changes occur

the energy released in transitions between the energy levels of electrons is lower and leads to lower energy visible light being emitted, whereas the enormous energy changes involved during nuclear energy transitions results in much higher energy gamma rays being emitted