how does the energy of an electron change when the electron moves closer to the nucleus?

When an electron moves closer to the nucleus, its potential energy decreases.

When an electron moves closer to the nucleus, its energy decreases. This change in energy is a result of the attractive force between the negatively charged electron and the positively charged nucleus.

To understand this concept, we need to consider the behavior of electrons in an atom according to the Bohr model. The Bohr model describes the electron's energy levels as discrete orbits around the nucleus. These energy levels are quantized, meaning that they are only allowed to have specific values.

In this model, the energy of an electron depends on its distance from the nucleus. Electrons in higher energy levels are located farther from the nucleus, while electrons in lower energy levels are closer to the nucleus.

As an electron moves from a higher energy level to a lower energy level (closer to the nucleus), it emits energy in the form of a photon. This process is known as electron transition or electron relaxation. The emitted energy is equivalent to the energy difference between the two energy levels.

Conversely, when an electron absorbs energy from an external source, it can move from a lower energy level to a higher energy level (farther from the nucleus).

So, in summary, the energy of an electron decreases as it moves closer to the nucleus, and it increases as it moves farther away from the nucleus.