Energy of the electron in a hydrogen atom

Consider the electron in a circular orbit of radius r about the proton

(nucleus of the hydrogen atom).

Application of classical ideas

e2
i. The electrical potential energy, E p   … (1)
4o r

e2 mv 2
ii. For circular motion,  .
4o r 2 r

1  e2 

The kinetic energy of the electron, Ek  … (2)
2  4o r 


e2
iii. The total energy of the electron, ET  E p  Ek   … (3)
8o r
Comments:

1. The total energy is negative. This is an indication of the attraction

between the electron and the proton. (This also applies to the
attraction between the Earth and the Sun.)

1
2. ET   .
r

a. This means that the closer the electron is to the proton, the
lower is its total energy (more stable).

b. ET varies continuously with the distance r.

Application of new ideas

i. Bohr’s postulate:
 h 
Angular momentum of electron, L  n  … (4)
 2 
where n is a positive integer, and L  mvr .

h
ii. de-Broglie’s equation: ,p … (5)

where p is the linear momentum of a particle,  is the associated
wavelength of the particle.

iii. The electron in orbit is viewed as a standing wave (so that no

energy is radiated) such that the circumference of the orbit can fit a
whole number of wavelengths.


r

This implies: 2rn  n … (6)

Combining (5) and (6):

nh nh
mv n   mv n rn  (Bohr’s postulate!) … (7)
2rn 2

2
2 2 2  nh 
iv. From (7), m v n rn    . Substitution of (2) gives:
 2 
 h 2   4 
rn  n 2  o  , and ET   1  e m  .
 2  n 2  8o 2h 2 
 e m 
Comments:

1
1. From (iv), it can be seen that rn  n 2 and ET   . Since n is
n2
discrete (n = 1, 2, 3, …), this means that the orbital radius and total
energy can only take on certain allowed values. They are therefore
said to be quantized.

2. When n = 1,


r1  12 
8 . 85  10 12

 6 . 63  10 
34 2 

  5.3  10
11

 
m,
2
   1.6  10 19  9.1 10 31 
 

1
E1   
 4

1.6  10 19  9.1 10 31


 13.53 eV
2

1 8  8.85  10

12 2
 
 6.63  10  34 2 
 
 The observed value of E1 is – 13.6 eV.

 This shows that the combination of classical ideas with new

ideas (Bohr’s postulate, de-Broglie’s equation, electron as
stationary waves) is in good agreement with experimental
observation.

 However, the small difference points to some unknown

phenomenon yet to be discovered (the spin angular momentum
of the electron).
Remarks about wave-particle duality

1. Energy of photon: E  hf E – energy of a light particle, f –

associated frequency

h
2. de-Broglie’s relation: p p – momentum of particle,  -

associated wavelength

3. If one combines both equations:

E  pf  pc  mc c  E  mc 2 – Einstein’s famous mass-energy

equation!

Note: 1. For a photon, the mass m refers to its relativistic mass.

2. In the theory of special relativity, a particle has a rest-mass,

mo (when it is stationary) and a relativistic mass, m when it is
moving at a speed v.

mo
The equation is: m
2
v 
1  
c 

For small velocities (less than 1% of c), m  mo. This is why

Newton’s laws and concepts of nature were unchallenged
until Einstein wrote his special theory of relativity.