Samurai44 said:Greetings ,
Is the zero potential level ( not the ground state) considered as an excited state ?
and why the ground state isn't an excited state ?
Nugatory said:The ground state isn't considered an excited state because the usual definition of an excited state is "a state that it isn't the ground state".
Whether the zero potential level is considered an excited state or not depends on whether there's a state available with negative potential. If not, then the zero level is the ground state because there's nothing lower; if there then the zero level is an excited state because it can't be the ground state. Do remember, however, that because only differences between potentials matter, we can declare any level to be the zero level - the levels below it, if any, will be negative and the levels above it, if any, will be positive.
A zero potential level refers to a point in a system where the potential energy is equal to zero. This can occur in a variety of systems, such as atoms, molecules, or even larger systems like planets.
An excited state is a state of higher energy than the ground state. In terms of zero potential level, an excited state would have a higher potential energy than the ground state, meaning it is farther away from the zero potential level.
An atom can transition to an excited state through the absorption of energy, such as through collisions with other particles or absorption of photons. This energy can raise the atom's potential energy and cause it to move away from the zero potential level.
No, an atom can only be in one state at a time. However, some quantum systems can exhibit superposition, where they exist in multiple states simultaneously, but this is a different concept than being in two distinct states at once.
The zero potential level is a reference point for measuring an atom's potential energy. A lower potential energy, such as that of an atom in a ground state, is generally considered more stable than a higher potential energy, like that of an excited state.