Attend: Energy levels Name _______________________________ Date: _____________

1. Calculate the energy of an ultraviolet photon of light whose wavelength is 122 nm. Express your
answer in Joules.
First find the freq:

Now find the energy:

2. The color of dyes results from the preferential absorption of certain wavelengths of light. For
certain dyes, such as the cyanine dye of which a portion is illustrated below, we can determine
the absorption wavelengths by using a simple particle in a box model. The dye molecules consist
of symmetric pairs of rings joined at the center by a chain of carbon atoms. Electrons of the
bonds along the chain of carbon atoms are shared among the atoms in the chain, but are
repelled by the nitrogen-containing rings at the end of the chain. These electrons are thus free
to move along the chain but not beyond its ends. They look very much like a particle in a one-
dimensional box. For the molecule below, the effective length of the “box” is 0.85 nm. What are
the energies of the first five states?

Identify the meaning of each of the

following variables for this
situation:

m the electron mass

Draw the standing wave for n=2. Show L and the

h Plank’s constant
wavelength on your drawing.

L box length

n energy levels, standing wave

mode
L=1
Show the calculation for the energy level
associated with n=2. n E (J) E (eV)
1 8.35E-20 0.52
2 3.34E-19 2.09
3 7.51E-19 4.70
4 1.34E-18 8.35
Note, you should be able to calculate in either J or eV:
be careful with the mass of the electron in eV/c2. 5 2.09E-18 13.04

n E (J) E (eV)
Attend 8 1 8.34797E-20 0.521748
2 3.33919E-19 2.086992
3 7.51317E-19 4.695733