An electron possessing a kinetic energy of 5 eV strikes a hydrogen atom in its ground state. The collision

Step-by-step solution

The energy of a hydrogen atom in its ground state ( n=1 ) is -13.6 eV . The energy of the first excited state ( n=2 ) is -3.4 eV . The minimum energy required to excite the hydrogen atom from the ground state to the first excited state is E = -3.4 eV - (-13.6 eV ) = 10.2 eV . The incident electron has a kinetic energy of 5 eV , which is less than the minimum excitation energy of 10.2 eV . Since the energy levels are quantized, the hydrogen atom cannot absorb any fraction of this energy. Thus, the internal energy of