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chug.-.chug
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Correct me if I am wrong, but atoms emit photons when they jump energy levels. Right?
Ygggdrasil said:Now, here's the caveat: the original process asked about atoms specifically. The processes I mentioned above occur mainly in molecules and many rely on properties specific to molecules (as opposed to atoms). I'm not sure if there are non-radiative excitation/relaxation processes that occur for atoms.
Photons are elementary particles of light that carry energy and travel at the speed of light. They are considered to be both particles and waves and are responsible for electromagnetic radiation, such as light, radio waves, and x-rays.
Atoms emit photons when their electrons move from a higher energy level to a lower energy level. This jump in energy causes the electrons to release photons in the form of electromagnetic radiation.
The energy level of an atom determines the frequency and energy of the emitted photon. When an electron drops from a higher energy level to a lower one, it releases a photon with a specific energy level and frequency.
No, photon emission is not a continuous process. It occurs in discrete steps when an electron jumps from one energy level to another. The energy of the photon released is dependent on the difference in energy between the two levels.
The color of light is determined by the frequency of the emitted photons. Higher frequency photons appear as blue or violet, while lower frequency photons appear as red or orange. Our eyes perceive different colors based on the frequency of photons that enter them.