Can a photon with energy value not corresponding to the discrete energy level differences excite an atom? [duplicate]

I'm a sophomore majoring in physics, and I had some question about the discrete energy value of atoms and its excitation.

So, I know that in order to make a hydrogen atom in a ground state to get "excited" to its 1st excited state we need 10.2eV. For 2nd excited state, we need 12.1eV.

My question is this: Will a photon with the energy value 11eV excite the hydrogen atom? Or will it just provide no energy to the atom and go away?

Also, if I "shoot" a photon with the energy 12.1eV to the atom, will it get excited to its 2nd excited state? Or is there any possibility the atom will be excited to its 1st excited state?

If the atom can be excited to either the 1st or the 2nd excited state, are the possibilities the same?

• Oh that just solved my question. Thanks a lot! Sep 11 at 9:20

An photon of intermediate energy will never excite an electron to a higher energy level. It needs to have an energy $$h\nu=\Delta E=E_2-E_1$$ where $$E_2$$ and $$E_1$$ correspond to different energy levels, and so an energy "in between" will cause no excitation to another level.