I'm really confused, they get energy that makes them "excited" but what releases the energy?
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
3
-
$\begingroup$ Using the hydrogen atom as an example, it's important to understand that you're actually dealing with two objects (proton and electron), interacting via a conservative force (the electromagnetic force), which means that there is a potential energy associated with their interaction. Classically, the energy of the photon that's released comes from the electron getting closer to the proton, which means that there is a decrease in potential energy, and that extra energy went into the photon. $\endgroup$– marchCommented Nov 3, 2016 at 16:50
-
$\begingroup$ Possible duplicates: physics.stackexchange.com/q/158604/50583, physics.stackexchange.com/q/74098/50583 $\endgroup$– ACuriousMind ♦Commented Nov 3, 2016 at 17:10
-
$\begingroup$ What releases the energy? That could be... the Sun. Or any source of heat. Electrons absorb some energy to reach a higher energy level - in other words, to become "excited". It doesn't really matter where that energy comes from, as long as the energy "package" is enough. $\endgroup$– SteevenCommented Nov 4, 2016 at 16:05
Add a comment
|
1 Answer
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
7
Electrons can get excited by absorbing photons carrying energy. By absorbing a photon an electron's energy increases by exactly E=hf where h is planck's constant and f is the frequency of the photon. It is a natural tendency of everthing to remain at the lowest stable energy state, so to reach a lower energy state, the electron releases the energy in the form of a photon and acquires a lower energy and a more stable state.
-
3$\begingroup$ You have to make clear that you are talking of a bound state of electrons around nucleus. $\endgroup$– anna vCommented Nov 3, 2016 at 17:11
-
$\begingroup$ Yes, the electrons can get excited and release energy only in a bound state in an atom $\endgroup$– AnianshCommented Nov 3, 2016 at 18:32
-
$\begingroup$ Everyone keeps saying released. I think the OP wants to know what that means. For instance we know what release means for a slingshot or a bullet but what does that mean for an electron releasing a photon? $\endgroup$ Commented Nov 4, 2016 at 16:12
-
$\begingroup$ Electron releasing a photon means electron releasing a portion of its energy and acquiring a lower energy state. $\endgroup$– AnianshCommented Nov 4, 2016 at 16:48
-
$\begingroup$ Yes we realize the electron ends up with less energy. The op wants to know what releases the energy or how the energy is released. What's the mechanism there? For instance is the energy ejected out of the electron and how or is the energy extracted out of the electron buy something else? What happens? $\endgroup$ Commented Nov 4, 2016 at 19:13