Practice question
Question
An electron in a hydrogen atom has a total energy of -3.4 eV. What is its kinetic energy?
Explanation
**Energy in hydrogen** total E_n = -13.6/n² eV, kinetic K = +13.6/n² eV, potential U = -27.2/n² eV, ratio K/U = -1/2, total negative indicates bound, zero at ionization, negative total means electron bound, requires energy to free. For n=4 E=-0.85 eV, U=-1.7 eV, K=0.85 eV, potential energy twice total negative. E = -K , K = -E = -(-3.4) = 3.4 eV . Using E_n = -13.6/n² eV, r_n = n² a₀, L = n h/2π, R = R₀ A^¹/³, BE = Δm c² and 1 u = 931.5 MeV, evaluation yields 3.4 eV, consistent with Bohr model and nuclear binding energy systematics.
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