Physics
Photon Emission and Absorption
Quick fact
When an atom absorbs a photon, it can only do so if the photon's energy matches exactly the difference between two of its electron energy levels.
Why this is interesting
Have you ever wondered how a light bulb produces light or why leaves appear green? The answer lies in the way atoms emit and absorb photons.
Read the full explanation
Understanding Photon Emission and Absorption
Imagine a tiny ladder inside an atom. Electrons are like little climbers that move up or down rungs by absorbing or emitting photons. When they jump to higher rungs (energy levels), they absorb light, and when they fall back down, they release it as light.
A deeper explanation
Photon emission occurs when electrons drop from a higher energy level to a lower one, releasing the extra energy as a photon. Absorption is the reverse: an electron jumps up to a higher energy level by absorbing a photon with matching energy. These processes are key to understanding atomic spectra and how materials interact with light.