An electron collides with an isolated atom and raises an atomic electron to a higher energy level - AQA - A-Level Physics - Question 12 - 2020 - Paper 1
Question 12
An electron collides with an isolated atom and raises an atomic electron to a higher energy level.
Which statement is correct?
A The colliding electron is captured... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:An electron collides with an isolated atom and raises an atomic electron to a higher energy level - AQA - A-Level Physics - Question 12 - 2020 - Paper 1
Step 1
A The colliding electron is captured by the nucleus of the atom.
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Answer
This statement is incorrect. The colliding electron typically does not get captured by the nucleus; it can interact with an atomic electron, resulting in a collision that excites the electron.
Step 2
B A photon is emitted when the electron rises to the higher energy level.
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Answer
This statement is incorrect as well. In fact, a photon is emitted when the excited electron returns to a lower energy state, not when it is raised to a higher level.
Step 3
C An electron is emitted when the excited electron returns to the ground state.
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Answer
This statement is not correct in the context of this question. An electron is typically not emitted simply because it returns to the ground state; rather, it often results in the emission of a photon.
Step 4
D The colliding electron transfers energy to the atomic electron.
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Answer
This statement is correct. In the described process, the colliding electron transfers energy to an atomic electron, resulting in the excitation of that electron to a higher energy level.
