The total mechanical energy of an electron in a particular Coulombic Bohr orbit is −8 eV. If the magnitude of its electrostatic potential energy is N eV, find N.

Question

G1 Physics · Accepted Answer

For a bound electron in a Coulomb orbit, K = −E and U = 2E. Given, E = −8 eV. Therefore, U = 2(−8) = −16 eV. The magnitude of potential energy is |U| = 16 eV. Hence N = 16.