Isaac physics D9.5 part c

This question it literally the bain of my life and a can’t figure it out, if anyone knows how please let me know.

For the situation where a 10eV electron passes through the atom when it is in its ground state , how much energy is the atom likely to absorb from the electron.You should have a different answer to Part A.

Here is the diagram (sorry idk how to put the picture in normally):
https://isaacphysics.org/images/content/books/physics_skills_19/ch_d/d9/figures/d9_atom_5.svg

The answer to part a was 0eV and part b was 10eV.

Thanks,

Reply 1

Joinedup

You want to be thinking about the photons being packets of a discrete amount of energy which they either entirely give up in a single event or not... The free electron will act more like a classical particle (or billiard ball) it's able to give up some amount of kinetic energy and continue on its way at a lower speed