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Atoms can absorb and emit electromagnetic radiation - OCR Gateway - GCSE Physics - Question 22 - 2019 - Paper 1
Question 22
Atoms can absorb and emit electromagnetic radiation. (a) Describe two possible effects on an electron in an atom when it absorbs electromagnetic radiation. 1. 2.... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Atoms can absorb and emit electromagnetic radiation - OCR Gateway - GCSE Physics - Question 22 - 2019 - Paper 1
Step 1
Describe two possible effects on an electron in an atom when it absorbs electromagnetic radiation.
Answer
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Increase in Energy Level: When an electron absorbs electromagnetic radiation, it can gain energy and move to a higher energy level (excited state). This allows the atom to store energy temporarily.
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Ejection from the Atom: In some cases, if the absorbed energy is sufficient, the electron may gain enough energy to completely overcome the attractive forces of the nucleus and be ejected from the atom, resulting in the ionization of the atom.
Step 2
Explain why alpha radiation is not emitted in the processes in part (a).
Answer
Alpha radiation involves the release of alpha particles (helium nuclei) during decay processes of heavy elements. In contrast, the processes described in part (a) involve the absorption of electromagnetic radiation affecting the electron's energy levels rather than changes to the nucleus itself. Hence, alpha radiation is not a product of electron energy changes due to electromagnetic absorption.