What happens to an atom when it absorbs energy?
1) The atom stores the energy for later use.
2) The atom re-emits the energy as electromagnetic radiation.
3) The extra energy increases the speed of the electrons in their orbitals.
4) The extra energy increases the oscillation frequency of atom's nucleus.
5) none of the above
I don't like any of the answers but 2 comes the closest, I think. What actually happens is that the atom absorbs the energy, electrons move from a lower orbit to a higher orbit THEN (and I emphasize THEN) the electron falls back to a lower level and emits electromagnetic radiation.
To answer this question, we need to understand the concept of energy levels in an atom. Atoms consist of a nucleus, which contains protons and neutrons, surrounded by electrons in different energy levels or orbitals.
When an atom absorbs energy, one of the following processes occurs:
1) The atom stores the energy for later use: This statement is incorrect. Atoms do not typically store absorbed energy for later use.
2) The atom re-emits the energy as electromagnetic radiation: This statement is correct. Absorbed energy can be re-emitted or released by the atom in the form of electromagnetic radiation, such as visible light or heat.
3) The extra energy increases the speed of the electrons in their orbitals: This statement is incorrect. When an atom absorbs energy, the extra energy is used to promote an electron to a higher energy level or orbital, rather than increasing the speed of the electrons in their current orbitals.
4) The extra energy increases the oscillation frequency of the atom's nucleus: This statement is incorrect. The absorption of energy by an atom primarily affects the electrons in the atom's orbitals, not the oscillation frequency of the nucleus.
Therefore, the correct answer is 2) The atom re-emits the energy as electromagnetic radiation.