Question

(a) Using the Bohr’s model calculate the speed of the electron in a hydrogen atom in the n = 1, 2, and 3 levels. (b) Calculate the orbital period in each of these levels.

Answer 1

(a) Let ν₁ be the orbital speed of the electron in a hydrogen atom in the ground state level, n₁ = 1. For charge (e) of an electron, ν₁ is given by the relation,

Where,

e = 1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ C

∈₀ = Permittivity of free space = 8.85 × 10⁻¹² N⁻¹ C² m⁻²

h = Planck’s constant = 6.62 × 10⁻³⁴ Js

For level n₂ = 2, we can write the relation for the corresponding orbital speed as:

And, for n₃ = 3, we can write the relation for the corresponding orbital speed as:

Hence, the speed of the electron in a hydrogen atom in n = 1, n=2, and n=3 is 2.18 × 10⁶ m/s, 1.09 × 10⁶ m/s, 7.27 × 10⁵ m/s respectively.

(b) Let T₁ be the orbital period of the electron when it is in level n₁ = 1.

Orbital period is related to orbital speed as:

Where,

r₁ = Radius of the orbit

h = Planck’s constant = 6.62 × 10⁻³⁴ Js

e = Charge on an electron = 1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ C

∈₀ = Permittivity of free space = 8.85 × 10⁻¹² N⁻¹ C² m⁻²

m = Mass of an electron = 9.1 × 10⁻³¹ kg

For level n₂ = 2, we can write the period as:

Where,

r₂ = Radius of the electron in n₂ = 2

And, for level n₃ = 3, we can write the period as:

Where,

r₃ = Radius of the electron in n₃ = 3

Hence, the orbital period in each of these levels is 1.52 × 10⁻¹⁶ s, 1.22 × 10⁻¹⁵ s, and 4.12 × 10⁻¹⁵ s respectively.