Understanding energy transitions

[Bethany Yang 2E]

For some reason I am having a difficult time understanding this. I know that the higher energy it is, the shorter wavelength, and the shorter energy, the longer the wavelength. But how do you apply this to when looking at energy levels.
For example, on sapling it says "the range of wavelengths produced will be from the highest-energy transition (n=6 to n=1) to the lowest-energy transition (n=6 to n=5)."

Why would 6 to 1 be a shorter wavelength if it feels like it has to jump all the way down to 1, when 6 is just going to 5?

[AndrewNguyen_2H]

Yes, so each energy transition releases a photon with a specific wavelength and frequency. Typically, the higher the energy photons have higher frequencies. Since c=wavelength * frequency, a higher frequency corresponds to a shorter wavelength and vice versa.

[Arieanne De Guzman 2J]

I believe you answered the question for yourself! Like you said, the higher the energy, the shorter the wavelength. n=6 to n=1 has a higher energy emission than n=6 to n=5, thus the wavelength would be shorter. Hope this helps (:

[BaileyB1F]

Another way to think about it is like a set of stairs. It takes more energy to climb form the first floor to the sixth floor than from the fifth floor to the sixth floor. For both cases, going up the stairs requires energy (just remember that going down the stairs, from n=6 to n=1, releases energy), but more energy is required in the first instance.

[Anastasia Yulo 1C]

When the energy is higher, the wavelength is shorter. This relationship can be observed from the energy equation. n=6 to n=1 has a greater energy emission than n=6 to n=5, therefore the wavelength would be shorter.