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Finding Wavelength of Light
Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2019 4:33 pm
by 904914037
Could anyone please explain how to find the wavelength of a light associated with a change in an electron's every level? I will paste an example below, thank you!
"In the hydrogen atomic spectrum, what is the wavelength of light associated with the n = 2 to n = 1 electron transition?"
Re: Finding Wavelength of Light
Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2019 11:21 am
by 005391550
You can use the formula
frequency = -R((1/(n1^2)) - (1/(n2^2))
where R is rydberg's constant, n1 would be 2 and n2 would be 1 for that electron transition
and then you can use that frequency to find the wavelength
Re: Finding Wavelength of Light
Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2019 5:46 pm
by Ryan Chang 1C
Adding on the the post above, wavelength is equal to the speed of light divided by frequency.
Re: Finding Wavelength of Light
Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2019 7:45 pm
by Kassidy Ford 1I
In lecture Prof Lavelle urges not to use the Rydberg equation if it confuses you but instead to use the H-atom spectrum equation, which is E(n)= -hR/n^2. you do that for both energy states, n=2 and n=1, and then subtract the initial energy from the final energy to get the change in energy. you can then use this energy in the equation wavelength= hc/e to solve for wavelength