Mohammad_93 said:where that of an object around the Earth is positive
Potential energy is the stored energy that an object possesses due to its position or configuration. It is the energy that an object has the potential to convert into other forms of energy, such as kinetic energy.
The potential energy of an electron in hydrogen is related to its position in relation to the nucleus of the hydrogen atom. As the electron gets closer to the nucleus, its potential energy decreases. This is because the attractive force between the positively charged nucleus and the negatively charged electron increases as they get closer together.
The electron in hydrogen is considered to have negative potential energy because it is attracted to the positively charged nucleus. In physics, the direction of the attractive force is opposite to the direction of the potential energy. Therefore, the potential energy of the electron is negative when it is attracted to the nucleus.
Potential energy plays a crucial role in the formation of chemical bonds between atoms. When atoms come together to form a bond, they release potential energy as they move closer together. This released energy is used to overcome the repulsive forces between the positively charged nuclei. The stability of a chemical bond is determined by the amount of potential energy released during bond formation.
The potential energy of an electron affects its behavior in an atom by determining its allowed energy levels and orbitals. Electrons can only exist in certain energy levels and orbitals based on their potential energy. This is why electrons do not fall into the nucleus, as their potential energy would become negative and violate the laws of physics. Additionally, changes in potential energy can cause electrons to jump to different energy levels, resulting in the emission or absorption of light.