Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321740904
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-090-8

Chapter 41 - Atomic Physics - Exercises and Problems - Page 1245: 14

Answer

$ 3 \to 2 = 658 \, \text{nm} $ $ 3 \to 1 = 103 \, \text{nm} $ $ 2 \to 1= 122\, \text{nm} $

Work Step by Step

First, we need to determine the highest energy level allowed. We know that $$ E = e V $$ where $ e $ is the electron charge and $ V $ is the potential difference. In this case, $ V = 12.5 \, \text{V} $, so: $$ E =\bf 12.5 \,\rm eV\tag 1 $$ We know that the energy levels of a hydrogen atom are given by $$ E_n = - \frac{13.6}{n^2} \, \text{eV} $$ where $ n $ is the principal quantum number. So to find the highest energy level $ n $ that the hydrogen atom can be excited to, we need to find the value of $ n $ such that the energy difference between the ground state ( $ n = 1 $ ) and level $ n $ equals the energy gained by the electron (12.5 eV). $$ E_n - E_1 = 12.5 \, \text{eV} $$ $$ - \frac{13.6}{n^2} + 13.6 = 12.5 $$ Solving for $n$; $$ \frac{13.6}{n^2} = 1.1 $$ $$ n^2 = \frac{13.6}{1.1} \approx 12.36 $$ $$ n \approx 3.5 $$ Since $ n $ must be an integer, the highest allowed energy level is $$ n = \bf 3 $$. Now we can see that the possible quantum-jump transitions are: $ 3 \to 2 $, $ 3 \to 1 $, $ 2 \to 1 $ Recalling that the energy difference between two levels is given by: $$ \Delta E = E_{n_i} - E_{n_f}=\dfrac{hc}{\lambda} $$ So, $$ \lambda = \dfrac{hc}{\Delta E } $$ Transition $ 3 \to 2 $: $$ \lambda_{3\to 2} =\dfrac{hc}{ E_3-E_2 } =\dfrac{(6.63\times 10^{-34})(3\times 10^8)}{\left(- \frac{13.6}{9} + \frac{13.6}{4} \right)(1.6\times 10^{-19})} $$ $$ \lambda_{3\to 2} =\color{red}{\bf 658} \, \text{nm} $$ Transition $ 3 \to 1 $: $$ \lambda_{3\to 1} =\dfrac{hc}{ E_3-E_1} =\dfrac{(6.63\times 10^{-34})(3\times 10^8)}{\left(- \frac{13.6}{9} + 13.6 \right)(1.6\times 10^{-19})} $$ $$ \lambda_{3\to 1} =\color{red}{\bf 103} \, \text{nm} $$ Transition $ 2 \to 1 $: $$ \lambda_{2\to 1} =\dfrac{hc}{ E_2-E_1} =\dfrac{(6.63\times 10^{-34})(3\times 10^8)}{\left(- \frac{13.6}{4} + 13.6 \right)(1.6\times 10^{-19})} $$ $$ \lambda_{2\to 1} =\color{red}{\bf 122} \, \text{nm} $$
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