Equations with Rydberg's Constant

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DArcy Perlman 1C
Posts: 118
Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2021 5:24 am

Equations with Rydberg's Constant

Postby DArcy Perlman 1C » Wed Oct 20, 2021 9:46 pm

I have a question on the technicality on the equations regarding Rydberg's Constant:
One the midterm cheat sheet, one equation is written like this v=R[(1/n1^2)-(1/n2^2)], but the same equation is written in the Atomic Spectra module as v=-R[(1/n1^2)-(1/n2^2)]. These aren't equal as the equation in the module could be simplified to v=R[-(1/n1^2)+(1/n2^2)], which is not the same as the equation on the cheat sheet. The cheat sheet equation states that you should subtract the nfinal value from ninitial, while the module equation states that you should subtract the ninitial value from nfinal. So when subtracting n energy levels, do you subtract initial from final or final from initial?
Sorry very repetitive.

DArcy Perlman 1C
Posts: 118
Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2021 5:24 am

Re: Equations with Rydberg's Constant

Postby DArcy Perlman 1C » Wed Oct 20, 2021 11:04 pm

Actually I'm going to answer my own question because I think I figured it out:
You are always subtracting final minus initial conceptually, but when you are deriving the Rydberg equation and simplifying the math, you end up getting initial minus final in the form of v=R[(1/n1^2)-(1/n2^2)]. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.


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