In a hydrogen atom, the attractive force is F = ke²/r². An electron initially moves in a circular orbit of radius R₁ and suddenly jumps to a circular orbit of radius R₂. Find the decrease in the total energy of the atom.
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Question

In a hydrogen atom, the attractive force is F = ke²/r². An electron initially moves in a circular orbit of radius R₁ and suddenly jumps to a circular orbit of radius R₂. Find the decrease in the total energy of the atom.

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G1 Physics · Accepted Answer

Step 1: For a Coulomb orbit the total energy is E = −ke²/(2R). Step 2: Therefore the decrease when the radius changes from R₁ to R₂ is E₁−E₂ = (ke²/2)(1/R₂−1/R₁). Correct answer: B.