The average separation between the proton and the electron in a hydrogen atom in ground state is 5.3 × 10–11 m. (a) Calculate the Coulomb force between them at this separation. (b) When the atom goes into its first excited state the average separation between the proton and the electron increases to four times its value in the ground state. What is the Coulomb force in this state?
Given that the average separation between the proton and the electron of a Hydrogen atom in ground state, r = 5.3 × 10−11 m
(A)To calculate Coulomb Force –
Coulomb’s force of between electron and proton is given by –
Where,
q1 and q2 = are the charges
k = proportionality constant = 9×109
r= distance between the charges
Substituting the values –
(B) When the average separation between the proton and the electron increases to four times its value in the ground state, the Coulomb force becomes –
