Advanced Workshop: How Atoms Make Light

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All atoms can make light. How do they do this? The atom's electrons occupy energy levels like the floors of a building, with the ground floor being the lowest energy level and higher floors representing higher energy levels. Just like how we get excited when we receive a surprise gift or experience something new, atoms' electrons can also get excited when they receive extra energy! This can be done by zapping the atoms with electricity, heating them up, or using other forms of energy. When the electrons absorb this extra energy, they become like kids on a high-energy playground - we say they're in an "excited state." Imagine the electrons on higher floors, feeling all thrilled and buzzing with excitement! But don’t imagine too hard, because as far as we know, electrons don’t really feel things. But just like a stone can easily drop from a higher to a lower floor in a building, excited electrons can easily fall back to their original energy levels in the atom. That’s when they release their extra energy in the form of light. Voila! We get to witness a fantastic light show! And here’s the fascinating part. The colour or wavelength of the light depends on how far they fall. This means we can figure out how far apart the energy levels are by measuring the light’s wavelength. It's like being a detective and solving the mystery of the atom's energy levels! Along with learning about atoms and light, we can have loads of fun with light-related activities. We can create rainbows with prisms, split light into its different colours, and explore how light interacts with objects around us.

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Contact Details

• 0428 880868

  ian@atomicschool.com