As an electron makes a transition from an excited state to the ground state of a hydrogen - like atom/ion:
- (A)kinetic energy, potential energy and total energy decrease
- (B)kinetic energy decreases, potential energy increases but total energy remains same
- (C)kinetic energy and total energy decrease but potential energy increases
- (D)its kinetic energy increases but potential energy and total energy decrease✓ Correct
Answer: (D)
Solution
It helps to recall the energy bookkeeping of a hydrogen-like atom: the total energy obeys and , so all three quantities are tied to the single number . Dropping towards the ground state means falling into a more tightly bound level, so grows more negative and the total energy decreases. Because , the potential energy also becomes more negative, i.e. it decreases as well. But , so as falls the kinetic energy rises; the electron speeds up while both its potential and total energies drop.
JEE Main · 2015 · 04 Apr 2015 · Offline · Single correct option