When electrons jump why photon

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    Electrons Jump Photon
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the phenomenon of electrons transitioning between energy levels and the nature of energy released during these transitions, specifically focusing on why photons are emitted rather than other forms of energy such as kinetic or sound energy. The scope includes conceptual exploration and technical reasoning related to quantum mechanics and electromagnetic interactions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that energy must be released when electrons jump between shells, questioning why only light energy is emitted.
  • Others argue that the energy released corresponds to the energy difference between electron levels, and that the emitted photons can span a wide range of energies beyond visible light.
  • One participant suggests that the question pertains to why kinetic energy is not released, noting that light encompasses various frequencies including infrared, UV, and gamma rays.
  • Another participant raises the possibility of sound or other energy forms being released, attributing the emission of photons to the electric charge of electrons and their coupling with the electromagnetic field.
  • Some participants express curiosity about deeper theoretical explanations for the coupling of quantum fields, indicating a desire for a more fundamental understanding.
  • A later reply compares the electron transition to plucking a string, suggesting a wave-like behavior in the energy release, but acknowledges uncertainty about the underlying principles of electromagnetic oscillations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus, as multiple competing views regarding the nature of energy release and the reasons for photon emission remain present throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the discussion regarding the assumptions made about energy forms and the nature of quantum field interactions, which are not fully resolved.

jd12345
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When electrons jump from one shell to another energy has to be released right? Why is only light energy released? Why not other forms of energy?
 
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The energy released depends on the energy difference of the electron levels. The photons released have a wide range of energy, not just light.
 
mathman said:
The energy released depends on the energy difference of the electron levels. The photons released have a wide range of energy, not just light.

I think he means why not kinetic energy. Light can include all frequencies, infrared light, UV-light, even gamma or radio light but we don't know of things that see in those spectrums.
 
I think what jd12345 means is: why not sound or other kinds of energy.

Answer: because they have electric charge.
 
I think jd12345 is asking why photons and not other particles? It's because electric charge leads to the electron field being coupled to the electromagnetic field, whereas it is not coupled with other fields. As to what determines which quantum fields couple with which, there might be a deep field theory explanation for it but it might be easier to just think of it as a fact of the universe.
 
yeah, i think there might be a deeper reason for this stuff. Hard to digest it without knowing "why".
 
jd12345 said:
yeah, i think there might be a deeper reason for this stuff. Hard to digest it without knowing "why".
Many of the replies include guessing what you meant. It would clarify things if you answered that yourself.
 
mathman said:
Many of the replies include guessing what you meant. It would clarify things if you answered that yourself.

If it helps, you can sort of think of it like plucking a sting. If you picture it in slow motion, the motion of you pulling it up an energy level and then releasing it so that it vibrates and returns to it's normal state makes a wave that travels across the wire.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHcse1jJAto&feature=related

kind of like that.

How scientists know that the magnetic and electric oscillations are perfectly perpendicular to each other is something I don't know.
 

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