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emtilt
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I apologize if this is the incorrect forum for this problem; I was unsure which would be most suitable because the problem is from a low level astrophysics class but is not precisely or exclusively astrophysics.
For a gas of neutral hydrogen atoms, at what temperature will equal numbers of atoms have electrons in the:
A) ground state (n=1) and in the first excited state (n=2)?
B) ground state and second excited state (n=3)?
(I'm assuming that this problem is dealing with the Bohr atom, not something more complex.)
Perhaps the Boltzman distribution ([tex]\frac{n_j}{n_i}=\frac{g_j}{g_i}e^{\frac{-(E_j-E_i)}{kT}}[/tex]) with the Balmer formula to get the enrgies? But then where do I get the statistical weights?
I really do not know how to do this problem, or what equations to use to relate the temperature to the electron states. Any help is appreciated.
Homework Statement
For a gas of neutral hydrogen atoms, at what temperature will equal numbers of atoms have electrons in the:
A) ground state (n=1) and in the first excited state (n=2)?
B) ground state and second excited state (n=3)?
(I'm assuming that this problem is dealing with the Bohr atom, not something more complex.)
Homework Equations
Perhaps the Boltzman distribution ([tex]\frac{n_j}{n_i}=\frac{g_j}{g_i}e^{\frac{-(E_j-E_i)}{kT}}[/tex]) with the Balmer formula to get the enrgies? But then where do I get the statistical weights?
I really do not know how to do this problem, or what equations to use to relate the temperature to the electron states. Any help is appreciated.
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