How well can you know the momentum of the electron?

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The discussion focuses on the momentum of an electron in a hydrogen atom, emphasizing that the electron's momentum can be calculated using the formula p = h/λ, where h is Planck's constant. It is noted that as energy increases, such as moving to the fifth energy level, the electron will have more momentum due to higher kinetic energy. The conversation also addresses two specific electron transitions that emit photons in the visible spectrum: the transition from level 5 to level 2 produces red light, while the transition from level 3 to level 2 produces blue light, due to the differences in energy levels involved. The quantization of energy and angular momentum restricts the electron to specific orbits and energy states. The original poster expresses confusion about these concepts and seeks additional resources for clarification.
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Consider the hydrogen atom (proton and electron)...
1. the radius of the lowest energy state is about 5x10^(-11) m. How
well can you know the momentum of the electron? In your solution, show
that you get units of momentum.

2. If energy is added, so that the electron moves up to the fifth
energy level, will the electron have moreor less momentum? Explain
your reasoning.

3. Consider two transitions:
(a) from level 5 to level 2
(b) from level 3 to level 2
both transitions produce photons in the visible range, one in the red
and the other in the blue. Which transition goes with which photon??
Justify your reasoning.
 
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Read the rules of the forum.
 
CaptainZappo said:
Read the rules of the forum.

Ok, here what we know so far:

1. the electron has angular momentum.
2. But only certain values of angular momentum which are multiples of Plank's constant.
3. the combination of quantized energy and quantized angular momentum picks out only certain allowed orbits
4. so: the wavefronts are "quantized", only certain orbits are possible, only certain energies are possible, only certain angular momenta are possible and the light is emitted in transitions between orbits.
5. (The electron isn't following orbital paths in hydrogen, it is confined to regions of space)
6. Only two electrons end up in every energy-and-angular momentum combination

here I'm a little lost in understanding all this, but I'll keep trying

anyway:
p = h/lambda kg x m/s
p = 6.63 x 10^(-34) m^2 x kg/s

But I'm really lost at this point. Before answering can anyone refer me to a site where I could read more about it?

Thanks
 
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