Understanding Photon Emission from Atoms

[danago]

Hi. This isn't so much a homework question, but more of a conceptual understanding question.

Lets say an atom has a ground energy level defined at 0J.
The energy levels are:

E1 = 0 J
E2 = 7.77*10^-19 J
E3 = 10.66*10^-19 J
E4 = 14.1*10^-19 J
E5 = 16.6*10^-19 J

Now, if an electron with over 16.6*10^-19 J of energy is shot into the atom, what are the possible energies of photons that can be emitted?

I would have started by saying:

7.77*10^-19 J
10.66*10^-19 J
14.1*10^-19 J
16.6*10^-19 J

my textbook seems to agree with me there. Now, i would also think that more energies are possible, because of electrons going from one energy level other than the ground state to another. So the following would also be possible:

2.89*10^-19 J
6.33*10^-19 J
3.44*10^-19 J
etc...

The book didnt explicitly say these arent correct, but it didnt really mention them, so I am not sure if my understanding is correct or not.

Any help is appreciated,
Thanks in advance,
Dan.

 

[chaoseverlasting]

Yeah. That is possible. Eventually, the electron does end up at the ground level. I think the total number of paths is n*(n-1)/2.

 

[danago]

Alright, thanks for clearing that up