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What does "discrete" mean? Discrete energy levels?

Edit: Thanks, I got the answer. So, it means "not continuous".

At first, I thought discrete meant constant and specific (unique to that particular atom).

Atoms have discrete energy levels.

Does this statement mean:
Atoms have unique energy levels that are specific to that atom.

And is this statement correct:
Difference in energy levels are discrete.

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 1

Stressygirl

It means the atom has an energy level that can be one of a distinct number of levels. it can not be between these levels.

This is like a car have discrete gears. it can be in neutral, reverse, first, second etc, but not in between these gears

Reply 2

Sayonara

Original post by Stressygirl

Are you sure? All this time I thought it meant something else.

Oh, so this is what it means, thank you.

Reply 3

username457532

Original post by Sayonara

Are you sure? All this time I thought it meant something else.

Oh, so this is what it means, thank you.

Yeah. It means basically like the energy can be 1, 3, 6, 20, 35 but not anything in between those numbers.

Reply 4

Kallisto

Entertainment Forum Helper

The discrete energy levels of an atom means the different energies by different electron paths. A hydrogen atom for instance has the energy 13.6eV for the electron path n = 1.

Reply 5

Stonebridge

So it also means, in this context, " not continuous".

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 6

Kallisto

Entertainment Forum Helper

By the way discrete energy levels might come into being by crossings of the electron paths. The crossing from electron path n = 5 to n = 4 for instance has a different energy than the crossing from electron path n = 2 to n = 1. These energies are discrete too.

Reply 7

Physics Mick

The best way of explaining it is, think about if you were in a lift in a building. You can get off at, say, floors 1,2, and 3. You can't get off at floor 1.5 or 2.5 or anywhere in-between floors 1,2 and 3. They are the discrete values. The same concept applies to energy levels.