In 1896, the American astronomer Edward C. Pickering (1846-1919) discovered an unusual series of spectral lines in
Question:
In 1896, the American astronomer Edward C. Pickering (1846-1919) discovered an unusual series of spectral lines in light from the hot star Zeta Puppis. After some time, it was determined that these lines are produced by singly ionized helium. In fact, the "Pickering series" is produced when electrons drop from higher levels to the n = 4 level of He+. Spectral lines in the Pickering series have wavelengths given by
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In this expression, n = 5, 6, 7, c,......
(a) Do you expect the constant C to be greater than, less than, or equal to the Rydberg constant R? Explain.
(b) Find the numerical value of C.
(c) Pickering lines with n = 6, 8, 10,........ correspond to Balmer lines in hydrogen with n = 3, 4, 5, ....... Verify this assertion for the n = 6 Pickering line.
Step by Step Answer:
Set the photon energy of a Pickering line equal to the change in energy of the singly ion...View the full answer
