Does the potential change as an electron moves within an atom?

[granpa]

as I understand it the wave function of an electron around the nucleus is determined by the potential. but doesn't the potential change when the electron moves to a higher or lower shell/subshell.

 

[tim_lou]

The usual Schrödinger's eq doesn't deal with self-potentials (self-energies). It only addresses electrons in an external potential. This potential is constant no matter where the electron is.