Explain how the structure of the atom creates binding energy, and what limits there are on the amount of binding energy an electron can have

What will be an ideal response?


The Coulomb force is an attractive force between oppositely charged particles. The positive protons in the nucleus attract the negative electrons in the electron cloud. In order to overcome this force and remove the electron from the atom, energy must be added to counteract the Coulomb force. This energy is called the binding energy, since it is the amount of energy that binds the electron to the nucleus.

Quantum mechanics demands that the electron can only occupy certain "permitted orbits" or "energy levels", and cannot exist between them. Each of these represents a different amount of binding energy. The lowest energy level is termed the ground state.

For each atom, the electron will only be able to have the uniquely specific energy values represented by that atom's unique pattern of energy levels.

Physics & Space Science

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What is a pulsar?

A) a star that alternately expands and contracts in size B) a rapidly rotating neutron star C) a neutron star or black hole that happens to be in a binary system D) a binary system that happens to be aligned so that one star periodically eclipses the other E) a star that is burning iron in its core

Physics & Space Science

Nova explosions involve a binary system of a white dwarf and a companion star and can occur in the same system repeatedly.

Answer the following statement true (T) or false (F)

Physics & Space Science

The intensity of an electromagnetic wave is 8 × 107 W/m2. What is the amplitude of the magnetic field of this wave?

A) 8.2 × 10-4 T B) 3.3 × 10-7 T C) 10 T D) 14 T E) 5.8 × 10-4 T

Physics & Space Science

The wire in Fig. 29-2 carries a current I that is decreasing with time at a constant rate. The induced emf in each of the loops is such that

A) no emf is induced in any loop. B) all loops experience counterclockwise emf. C) loop A has clockwise emf, loop B has no induced emf, and loop C has counterclockwise emf. D) loop A has counterclockwise emf, loop B has no induced emf, and loop C has clockwise emf. E) loop A has counterclockwise emf, loop B clockwise emf, and loop C has clockwise emf.

Physics & Space Science