Expression for recoil velocity of hydrogen atom during electron transition

In summary, the expression for recoil velocity of a hydrogen atom during electron transition is directly proportional to the energy released and includes the masses of the proton, electron, and neutron. The 1/n^2 term in the expression represents the difference in energy levels between the initial and final states of the electron transition, and the expression is only applicable to hydrogen atoms.
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How does one calculate the recoil velocity of a hydrogen atom when the electron in it jumps from a higher orbit to a lower orbit (say from 3rd to 1st) ?
 
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1. What is the expression for recoil velocity of a hydrogen atom during electron transition?

The expression for recoil velocity of a hydrogen atom during electron transition is given by:
v = (Ep/mp) * (me/mp)2 * (me/mn) * (1 - 1/n2) * (1 - 1/n2),
where Ep is the energy released during the transition, mp and me are the masses of the proton and electron respectively, and mn is the mass of the neutron.

2. How is the recoil velocity of a hydrogen atom during electron transition related to the energy released?

The recoil velocity is directly proportional to the energy released during the electron transition. This means that as the energy released increases, the recoil velocity also increases.

3. Does the mass of the proton and neutron affect the recoil velocity of a hydrogen atom during electron transition?

Yes, the mass of the proton and neutron do have an impact on the recoil velocity. The expression for recoil velocity includes the masses of these particles, and as the masses change, the recoil velocity will also change.

4. What is the significance of the 1/n2 term in the expression for recoil velocity?

The 1/n2 term represents the difference in energy levels between the initial and final states of the electron transition. It is a result of the energy quantization in atoms, where electrons can only exist in specific energy levels.

5. Can the expression for recoil velocity be used for electron transitions in atoms other than hydrogen?

No, the expression is specifically for hydrogen atoms. The masses and energy levels of different atoms vary, so the expression would need to be modified for other atoms.

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