Atomic Physics: Finding Energy Levels

[i_wish_i_was_smart]

i am having problems with the atom model part of physics, i know that the current model stats the electron location is a probability and all, its when i get to the wavelength and the energy, with all the ionization and the spectrums that i don't understand...

how can i find the energy level with a spectrum, do i use E=mc2 or E=pc by finding p with p=h/wavelength... or do i use more of a atomic physics equation like E=hf=hc/wavelength

keep in mind that i am french and i don't fully understand english termanlogy thx

 

[ZapperZ]

i am having problems with the atom model part of physics, i know that the current model stats the electron location is a probability and all, its when i get to the wavelength and the energy, with all the ionization and the spectrums that i don't understand...

how can i find the energy level with a spectrum, do i use E=mc2 or E=pc by finding p with p=h/wavelength... or do i use more of a atomic physics equation like E=hf=hc/wavelength

You find the energy level of an atom by solving the Schrödinger Equation for that atom (something you can only do exactly for H-atom). Then you find the energy eigenvalues using that solution and voila! You have the energy level spectrum!

... assuming, of course, that "Schrödinger Equation" translates to roughly the same thing in french.

Zz.

 

[Gokul43201]

(Zapper,
I doubt that the poster knows what a wave function is, far less know what solutions to the Schrödinger Equation look like or what spherical harmonics are. )

I'm only guessing your level, but I suggest you use the Bohr model to find energy levels and wavelengths of absorption/emission spectra. They are very good for a first approximation. Use E = hf, to convert between energy and frequency (or wavelength).

There's good info at wolfram : http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/physics/BalmerFormula.html