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When an electron in an atom changes energy level, it emits electromagnetic radiation - OCR Gateway - GCSE Physics - Question 10 - 2020 - Paper 1
Question 10
When an electron in an atom changes energy level, it emits electromagnetic radiation. Which row in the table is correct? | Energy level of the electron | Type of r... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:When an electron in an atom changes energy level, it emits electromagnetic radiation - OCR Gateway - GCSE Physics - Question 10 - 2020 - Paper 1
Step 1
Which row in the table is correct?
Answer
To determine which row in the table is correct, we need to analyze the relationship between an electron's energy level change and the type of electromagnetic radiation emitted:
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Energy Level Decrease: When an electron moves from a higher energy level to a lower energy level (energy decreases), it emits energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation. This process can emit various forms of radiation, including visible light, infrared, and others, depending on the energy difference. Therefore, Row A (decreases, almost any electromagnetic radiation) is a potential candidate.
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Energy Level Increase: When an electron absorbs energy and moves to a higher energy level (energy increases), it does not emit radiation at that instant; it absorbs it. Thus, Row C and Row D (increases) can be disregarded as they pertain to emission.
Given these analyses, the most accurate choice is:
- Row A: Decreases, Almost any electromagnetic radiation.