Tutorial details

Section I: Discrete spectra

Question A presents a student dialogue discussing the spectrum from a hydrogen lamp. Questions B-D guide students through calculating photon energies and relating them to differences in electron energy levels. They then revisit the student dialogue from the start of the tutorial. The Balmer series is briefly discussed.

Section II: Pattern of lines in discrete spectra

Students begin by calculating energy ratios for the electron energy levels and devise a relationship between $E_1$ and $E_n$. Students consider the limits of the line spectrum on both the right and left side. They then determine the energy transition corresponding to a given wavelength and find the location of the associated line on the spectrum.

In Questions H-I, students consider a line spectrum from an unknown gas. They determine the minimum number of energy levels to produce the given spectrum and sketch an energy level diagram that is consistent with the line spectrum.

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Students need to be familiar with the energy of a photon.

Equipment

List

• tutorial instructor slides
• tutorial student slides or worksheet

Discussion