Discussion Forum



1)

As an electron makes a transition from an excited state to the ground state of a hydrogen-like atom/ion.


A) Its kinetic energy increases but potential energy and total energy decrease

B) kinetic energy, potential energy and total energy decrease

C) kinetic energy decreases, potential energy increases but total energy remains same

D) kinetic energy and total energy decrease but potential energy increases

Answer:

Option A

Explanation:

As we know  that kinetic energy of an electron is 

                    $KE\propto\left(\frac{Z}{n}\right)^{2}$

  When the electron makes the transition from an excited state to the ground state, then n decreases and KE increases. We know that PE is the lowest for ground state. As TE= -KE, TE also decreases.