Photon is different from an eletron

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In summary, when an atom absorbs a photon, the energy and angular momentum of the electron changes (increases), and consequently the energy/angular momentum of the atom changes. When a photon is emitted, the energy and angular momentum decrease.
  • #1
Ngom
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Dear,
"when an electron jump from one state to an other one it does absorb or emmet an photon", For that it is not possible to caculate the life time of that photon? does anyone have any idea about the time that an electron can do by jumping from one state to an other one.
 
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  • #2
Ngom said:
Dear,
"when an electron jump from one state to an other one it does absorb or emmet an photon", For that it is not possible to caculate the life time of that photon? does anyone have any idea about the time that an electron can do by jumping from one state to an other one.

When, in an atom, an electron changes energy state because the atom gets excited, a photon can be absorbed/emitted. You should realize that, in this situation of atoms getting excited, the entire atom absorbs the photon and NOT just the electron. As a matter of fact, a free electron has a continuous energy distribution so clearly, the "jumping" you are referring to is not possible if we were just talking about an electron. Due to the fact that the electron is inside an atom, the energy levels of this electron are determined by its interaction with other electron and the atomic nucleus. In the latter case, the electronic energy distribution is discrete yielding the energy levels you are talking about.

marlon
 
  • #3
right but when an atome change a energy state it emmeted or absord a photon it means that the distribution of the electron inside the atom have change, so what i am asking is that that photon what is it exactly, it is a kind of energy ditribution or it is a force that have been applied to change the energy distribution inside the atom.
 
  • #4
A photon is a form of energy (electromagnetic). It has no rest mass, but does possesses momentum, p = E/c, where E is the photon's energy.

Electron(s) and the nucleus form a system we call an atom. When an atom absorbs a photon, the energy and angular momentum of the electron changes (increases) within the atom and consequently the energy/angular momentum of the system changes. When a photon is emitted the energy and angular momentum decrease.

A photon imparts a force to an electron, by virtue of changing the momentum and energy of the electron. The electron 'jumps' between discrete (quantized) energy levels.

Crudely, if the moon were to gain mass (e.g. by a collision with a large mass), the moon's energy and momentum would change, and so would the energy/momentum of the earth/moon system change.
 
  • #5
thank for your reply
 

What is the difference between a photon and an electron?

A photon is a fundamental particle that has zero mass and carries energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation. An electron, on the other hand, is a subatomic particle that has mass and carries a negative charge.

How do photons and electrons interact with matter?

Photons interact with matter through the electromagnetic force, while electrons interact through the electromagnetic and weak forces. Photons can be absorbed, emitted, or scattered by matter, while electrons can be exchanged or transferred between particles.

What is the role of photons and electrons in the formation of atoms?

Photons are crucial in the formation of atoms as they are responsible for the electromagnetic interactions between electrons and the nucleus. Electrons, on the other hand, determine the chemical properties of atoms and how they bond with other atoms to form molecules.

Can photons and electrons be found in the same place at the same time?

No, according to the Pauli exclusion principle, two particles cannot occupy the same quantum state at the same time. Since photons and electrons have different quantum states, they cannot occupy the same space simultaneously.

How do photons and electrons behave differently in a vacuum?

In a vacuum, photons can travel at the speed of light and do not experience any resistance. On the other hand, electrons experience resistance in a vacuum and cannot travel at the speed of light due to their mass.

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