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Chapter 33: Problem 11

An atom in an excited state emits a burst of light. What happens to the atom's mass?

Short Answer

Expert verified
When an atom in an excited state emits light, it loses energy and therefore, according to Einstein's theory of relativity, there is an incredibly small loss in the atom's mass.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding the Process of Light Emission

When an atom is in an excited state, it means that it has more energy than when it's in its ground or base state. This excess energy can be released in the form of light, in a process called spontaneous emission, thereby causing the atom to return to its ground state.
02

Energy-Mass Equivalence

From Einstein's theory of relativity, it is known that energy and mass are interchangeable, as given by the well-known equation \( E = mc^2 \). This means that when energy is lost from a system, there is a corresponding decrease in mass.
03

Applying Energy-Mass Equivalence to Emission

With the energy lost in the form of light, the atom, which is now in a lower energy state, will have slightly less mass than before. However, this is usually so small it's near impossible to measure.

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