In: Physics
The only visible spectral lines of hydrogen are the four Balmer series lines (transitions to n=2). We wish to cause hydrogen gas to glow with all its characteristic visible colors.
a) To how high an energy level must the electrons be excited?
b) Energy is absorbed in collisions with other particles. Assume that after absorbing energy in one collision, an electron jumps down through lower levels so rapidly so that it is in the ground state before the collision occurs. If an electron is to be raised to the level found in part (a), how much energy must be available in a single collision?
c) If such energetic collisions are to be effected simply by heating a gas until the average KE equals the desired upward energy jump, what temperature would be required?