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Quantum Physics Review questions
1. Describe how an atom becomes ionised.
2. What is the difference between an ionised and excited atom?
3. An excited atom loses its energy quickly. How does it do this?
4. What is the frequency of a photon given out by a transition from -0.85 eV to -1.51 eV?
5. Hydrogen has an ionisation energy of 13.6 eV. Explain what would happen if a hydrogen atom interacted with:
a) An electron of energy 22.1 eV;
b) A photon of energy 13.6 eV;
c) A photon of energy 6.1 eV.
6. Explain what happens when an electron interacts with an ionised atom.
7. In a spectrum of an ionised gas, only certain coloured lines can be seen. Why does this happen? 8. Explain in as much detail as you can how the electrical energy that is put into a fluorescent tube in a classroom) is converted into light energy that is useful in lighting a room.
9. What was de Broglie’s hypothesis?
10. What is the de Broglie wavelength of an electron travelling at 2 × 10 6 m/s?
11. What is the evidence that electrons behave like waves?
12. What is the de Broglie wavelength of an electron travelling at 2 × 10 6 m/s?
Answers 1. Describe how an atom becomes ionised.
An electron is removed by a collision with an electron with at least the
energy of the ionisation energy.
2. What is the difference between an ionised and excited atom?
Excited atom has an electron that is at a higher energy level
than the ground state. Ionised atom has had the electron removed completely.
3. An excited atom loses its energy quickly. How does it do this?
It returns to its ground state, emitting photons
4. What is the frequency of a photon given out by a transition from -0.85 eV to -1.51 eV?
5. Hydrogen has an ionisation energy of 13.6 eV. Explain what would happen if a hydrogen atom interacted with:
d) An electron of energy 22.1 eV;
Hydrogen atom would be ionised and the removed electron would
have excess kinetic energy of 8.5 eV.
e) A photon of energy 13.6 eV;
The electron would be raised right to the ionisation point
but would fall back to the ground state emitting photons of specific wavelengths
f) A photon of energy 6.1 eV.
No interaction would occur. Since there is no energy level 6.1 eV above
the ground state. 6. Explain what happens when an electron interacts with an ionised atom.
The electron is attracted by the electromagnetic force because the
charges are opposite. When the electron interacts it drops from the highest energy level to the ground state, emitting a photon.
7. In a spectrum of an ionised gas, only certain coloured lines can be seen. Why does this happen? There are specific energy levels at which an electron can stay. No other levels are possible. As the electrons fall between these levels, a photon is emitted. The photon frequency emitted depends on the difference between the levels. The colour depends on the frequency of the photon.
8. Explain in as much detail as you can how the electrical energy that is put into a fluorescent tube in a classroom) is converted into light energy that is useful in lighting a room.
Electrons collide with mercury atoms... which are ionised.
The positive mercury atoms collect electrons... ....which return to the ground state...emitting a UV photon. The UV photon interacts with the fluorescent material around the tube. The electrons are excited... ...and return to the ground state... emitting photons of visible light.
9. What was de Broglie’s hypothesis?
If waves have particle properties.
Then particles should behave like waves.
10. Diffraction is associated with waves. Give two examples of diffraction with waves.
Radio waves diffracting over a hill.
Sound waves diffracting through a door-way.
11. What is the evidence that electrons behave like waves?
Accelerated electrons Strike a carbon disc. A diffraction pattern is formed Diffraction is a wave property.
12. What is the de Broglie wavelength of an electron travelling at 2 × 10 6 m/s?
