Energy required by an electron

In summary, the conversation discusses using electrons to probe the size of a nucleus and whether the radius of the nucleus is relevant in this problem. It is suggested that the de Broglie wavelength be used to calculate the necessary energy for the electrons, with the possibility of needing relativistic corrections.
  • #1
Reshma
749
6
I am quite clueless over this. :frown:

Calculate what energy needs to be given to electrons so that they are able to probe the nuclear size.

Is the radius of the nucleus (~1Fermi) relevant in this problem? Help needed..
 
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  • #2
Your guess is right. For example x-rays can be used to probe the structure of solids because their wavelengthsm are of the same order of magnitude than atomic spacings in solids.
 
  • #3
Thanks again for replying!
So, I have to take the de Broglie wavelength as 10-15m and substitute in [itex]\lambda = \frac{h}{\sqrt{2mE}}[/itex] and obtain the KE, right?
 
  • #4
You should check wether relativistic corrections are necessary or not.
 

1. What is the basic unit of energy?

The basic unit of energy is the Joule (J). It is a derived unit in the International System of Units (SI), and is defined as the amount of energy required to exert a force of 1 Newton over a distance of 1 meter.

2. How much energy does an electron have?

The energy of an electron can vary depending on its location and movement, but the average energy of an electron in an atom is approximately 2.18 x 10^-18 J. This is known as the ground state energy.

3. How is energy required by an electron related to its position in an atom?

The energy required by an electron is directly related to its position in an atom. The closer the electron is to the nucleus, the lower its energy level will be. As the electron moves further away from the nucleus, its energy level increases.

4. What happens to an electron's energy when it jumps to a higher energy level?

When an electron jumps to a higher energy level, it absorbs energy. This energy is in the form of a photon, which is emitted when the electron eventually returns to its original, lower energy state.

5. How is energy required by an electron related to electron configuration?

The energy required by an electron is closely related to its electron configuration. The electron configuration determines the energy levels and sublevels that the electron can occupy, and therefore affects the amount of energy required for the electron to move between these levels.

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