Spectral Lines (Balmer Series & Lyman Series)

[Margaret Akey]

I am still confused at how the Balmer/Lyman series were obtained, and what their significance is! I am having trouble wrapping my head around the atomic spectra. Any advice for how to visualize these concepts?

[Jonathan Zhao 4H]

For me, it helps to draw the diagram that Lavelle draws in the lectures. This helps me visualize the electron going from its "excited" state to "resting" state and also the change in energy, which results in the release of photons.

[Carine Tamamian 2B]

The lyman series are the ultraviolet region, and the Balmer series are the visible region. The difference is where the electron lands after being excited, for balmer it's n=2, and for lyman it's at n=1. And yes drawing the picture does help to remember.

[amogha_koka3I]

I am also confused on this topic. In the HW problem 11 for chapter 1, we are asked to compare two figures and their spectral lines. I'm not sure where to start with this question and what exactly is common to their lines?