What wavelength should the astrophysicist look for to detect a transition of an electron from the n=7 to the n=3 level?

1 Answer
Feb 3, 2018

You have given us HALF the problem....

Explanation:

...in that you have not specified the atom whose transitions you observe...but since we can only readily interpret electronic transitions of the hydrogen atom, we assume that it is this one....

We use the #"Rydberg equation...."#

#1/lambda_("max")=R(1/n_1^2-1/n_2^2)#

#n_n="integers">=1#

#R="the Rydberg constant"=1.097xx10^7*m^-1#

And so #1/lambda_"transition"=1.097xx10^7*m^-1(1/3^2-1/7^2)#

#=995001.3#... and so #lambda_"transition"=1.005xx10^-6*m#