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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
Which statement is correct?
Answer
The correct statement is D: The colliding electron transfers energy to the atomic electron.
When an electron collides with an isolated atom, it can impart energy to an atomic electron, causing it to transition to a higher energy level. This energy transfer is a result of the kinetic energy from the colliding electron, effectively providing the necessary energy to excite an atomic electron.