JEE MAIN - Physics (2023 - 12th April Morning Shift - No. 15)

A $$12.5 \mathrm{~eV}$$ electron beam is used to bombard gaseous hydrogen at room temperature. The number of spectral lines emitted will be:
2
4
3
1

Explanation

The energy of an electron in an excited state of hydrogen is given by the equation:

Code snippet

$$E = -13.6 \frac{1}{n^2} \mathrm{~eV}$$

where n is the principal quantum number of the state.

The energy of the electron beam is 12.5 eV, which is enough to excite the electron to the n = 3 state.

The possible transitions from n = 3 to lower energy states are:

n = 3 to n = 2, with a wavelength of 656.33 nm (H-alpha)

n = 3 to n = 1, with a wavelength of 102.57 nm (Lyman-alpha)

n = 2 to n = 1, with a wavelength of 121.57 nm (Lyman-beta)

Therefore, there are 3 possible spectral lines that can be emitted.

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