Asked in ETEA MDCAT 2006 2006Moderate

The total energy of a H-atom in its ground state is:

Correct answer: A. Negative (-Ve)

  • A. Negative (-Ve)
  • B. Positive (+Ve)
  • C. Zero
  • D. None

Explanation

In the hydrogen atom, the force we are primarily referring to is the attractive force acting between the nucleus and the electron and this is obviously electrical in natureWe know for a fact from Coloumb's Law, that the electrostatic force between two like charges is positive in sign, while that between two unlike charges is negative in sign; Hence negative force means that it is attractive in nature;Therefore, this negative force vector and its multiplied value with the displacement vector (which is always considered positive since the nucleus is the origin) gives the value of the electron's energy in the negative sign hence option A is correct.

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