Negative Sign

[Raymond Ko 1H]

For the equation involving atomic levels:
En = -(hR)/n^2
Could someone explain for me one more time why there is a negative sign at the beginning of the equation?

[John_Richey_4A]

Because it is energy emitted which results in an energy state more negative than when it hadn't emitted a photon.

[Joonsoo Kim 4L]

The negative sign indicates that energy is lost from the electron in the process of jumping from a higher to lower energy level. The opposite of this value (positive number) would be the energy gained by the photon that is emitted as a result of this jump between energy levels.

[Andrewwiner4D]

Because the electron is losing energy as it moves down energy levels. Photons will be emitted (Light will be visible).
-Andrew Winer 4D

[Anita Wong 1H]

joonsoo explained it right! Because we are going from a higher energy level to a lower energy level, the change in energy is negative since we are going down energy levels.