Why Do Electrons Gain Energy as They Move Away from the Nucleus?

[ldv1452]

Why do electrons have more energy the further they are from the nucleus?

 

[xlines]

Why do electrons have more energy the further they are from the nucleus?

Why is that weird? Planet orbiting a sun has more energy as it is more distant.

 

[ldv1452]

Why is that weird? Planet orbiting a sun has more energy as it is more distant.

I didn't say that it's weird. I want to know why that is and your response does not explain anything.

 

[abc007]

the statement is false because the charge of electron is constant the statement have to be
why more energy is needed to take out electron from inner shell?
or
why electrons on the outer shell need more energy to keep them there?

 

[ldv1452]

the statement is false because the charge of electron is constant the statement have to be
why more energy is needed to take out electron from inner shell?
or
why electrons on the outer shell need more energy to keep them there?

Let me rephrase and see if it helps. Why are electron shells further from the nucleus said to be higher energy level shells? I was thinking that perhaps it is because more electrons are generally held in the outer shell, but I believe this is also true when number of electrons in shells are equal.

 

[alxm]

Electrons are negatively charged, the nucleus is positively charged.

 

[ldv1452]

Electrons are negatively charged, the nucleus is positively charged.

How does this result in higher energy levels further out?

 

[alxm]

How does this result in higher energy levels further out?

The potential energy is 1/r. It takes energy to move an electron from the ground state to an excited state farther out.

 

[ldv1452]

The potential energy is 1/r. It takes energy to move an electron from the ground state to an excited state farther out.

Thanks. That makes sense now.