Question

Given the value of the ground state energy of hydrogen atom as $-13.6eV$, find out its kinetic energy and potential energy in the ground and second excited states.

Answer 1

• At ground state
  

Total energy, $E=-13.6eV$

Kinetic Energy, K. E $=-E=13.6eV$

Potential Energy, P. E $=-2K.E=-2$ X $13.6=-27.2eV$

• At second excited state
  

We have the equation defining the energy levels of a hydrogen atom,

$E_n=-\frac{E_0}{n^2}eV$

Where $E_1=13.6$ and $n=1,2,3..$

Energy at the second excited state is

$E_2=-\frac{13.6}{2^2}eV=3.4eV$