Activity Number 316

	Overview and Learning Objectives
	Central Concepts
	Extensions and Connections
	Activity Credits

Excited States and Photons (SAM)

Interactive, scaffolded model

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	Overview and Learning Objectives Students explore models to discover that atoms can absorb photons but only if they have exactly the right frequency to match the difference between the energy levels. For visible light, the color of a photon is related to its energy. Blue photons have the most energy, green photons have less energy, red photons have the least energy of all. Infrared and ultraviolet photons are invisible. Infrared photons don't have enough energy to stimulate your eye, ultraviolet photons have too much. Students will learn that: different atoms have different energy levels when an atom jumps from one energy level to a lower one, it emits a photon of a particular frequency the energy of the photon is equal to the difference between the atom's energy levels. For visible light, the color of a photon is related to its energy. return to top



	Central Concepts Key Concept: Photons are little "wave packets" of light, and light is a form of energy. When an atom jumps from one energy level to a lower one, it emits a photon of a particular frequency. The energy of the photon is equal to the difference between the atom's energy levels. Additional Related Concepts Physics/Chemistry Energy Energy transfer Photon return to top



	Extensions and Connections Fermi Lab's ARISE Project suggests the following enhancement to this SAM unit: http://www.concord.org/~barbara/SAM/ARISE/ARISE_SAM_photons.pdf return to top



	Activity Credits Created by CC Project: SAM using Molecular Workbench return to top

These materials are based upon work supported by the
National Science Foundation under grant number DUE-0402553

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions
or recommendations expressed in this material are those of
the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views
of the National Science Foundation.

Excited States and Photons (SAM)

Overview and Learning Objectives

Central Concepts

Additional Related Concepts

Extensions and Connections

Activity Credits