An automatic detector records the energy of electromagnetic radiation emitted when electrons in a type of atom change orbit.
The atom has four allowed electron orbits, A, B, C and D. Orbit A is closest to the nucleus and orbit D is furthest from the nucleus.
The table gives the energy differences between neighbouring orbits.
| Orbits | Energy difference in J |
|---|---|
| A and B | 1.5 × 10-19 |
| B and C | 2.2 × 10-19 |
| C and D | 0.9 × 10-19 |
The detector records 3.1 × 10-19 J emitted in one direct transition.
State the transition made by the electron.
Calculate the energy emitted when an electron moves directly from orbit D to orbit A.
A reading of 2.4 × 10-19 J is claimed to have been produced by a direct electron transition in this type of atom.
Explain why this claim is not correct.
103 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Physics 6.1 Atomic structure and isotopes, covering 6.1.1 Structure of the atom, 6.1.2 Isotopes: atomic and mass number, 6.1.3 Sub-atomic particles: masses and charges, and 6.1.4 Electron orbits and energy changes. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.