When an electron falls from a higher energy level to a lower energy level within an atom, the following happens:
1. The electron releases energy: As the electron moves from a higher energy level to a lower energy level, it releases energy in the form of a photon.
2. Photon emission: The released energy appears as a photon, which is a packet of electromagnetic radiation. This photon carries away the energy that was lost by the electron transitioning to a lower energy state.
3. Change in energy levels: The electron transitions between energy levels due to changes in its orbit around the nucleus. The energy of the photon emitted corresponds to the difference in energy between the initial and final energy levels of the electron.
4. Spectral lines: The photons emitted during this process can be observed as spectral lines in the electromagnetic spectrum. Each element has a unique set of spectral lines corresponding to the transitions of its electrons between energy levels.
Overall, when an electron falls from a higher energy level to a lower energy level in an atom, it emits a photon carrying away the energy lost during the transition. This phenomenon is fundamental to understanding atomic structure and the behavior of electrons within atoms.
