Photon Absorption

Quick question: when an electron absorbs a photon with MORE THAN enough energy to jump one energy level but not two, what happens to the extra energy the electron doesn't absorb?

Thanks.

 PhysOrg.com science news on PhysOrg.com >> Front-row seats to climate change>> Attacking MRSA with metals from antibacterial clays>> New formula invented for microscope viewing, substitutes for federally controlled drug
 Recognitions: Homework Help Science Advisor If there's no state for it to jump to by absorbing the whole photon, it can't absorb the photon.
 The probability, or cross sections for photon absorption for bond levels in atoms are extremely peaked at the frequency of the transition, $$h\nu = E_u - E_l$$, pretty much like delta functions. Well, they're actually Lorenzian profiles, but the width is extremely small, ~$$10^{-4} \AA$$ for most transitions. If the photon doesn't have essentially the same energy as the energy difference of the levels, it won't get absorbed.