Lesson: Electron Energy Level Transitions Physics • 9th Grade

Students will be able to

• recall that the energy level an electron is in is denoted by the principal quantum number, ,
• recall that the lowest possible value for is 1 and that this represents the most strongly bound electrons,
• recall that the state is called the ground state,
• recall that increases for higher energy levels and that the greater the value of , the less strongly bound an electron is,
• recall that the term electron energy level transition refers to an electron moving between two energy levels,
• calculate the energy difference between two energy levels given the binding energy of each energy level,
• calculate the frequency or wavelength of the emitted or absorbed photon based on the energy levels that an electron transitions between (using ),
• recall that certain groups of transitions have certain names (e.g., Lyman series, Balmer series, Paschen series).