BALMER JUMP Meaning and
Definition
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The term "Balmer jump" refers to a specific spectral line in the electromagnetic spectrum known as the Balmer series. Named after Swiss mathematician Johann Balmer, this jump occurs in the visible region of the spectrum and corresponds to the transition of electrons in hydrogen atoms from the second energy level (n=2) to the first energy level (n=1).
In more technical terms, the Balmer series denotes a set of spectral lines characterized by the transition of electrons from higher energy levels to the second energy level of hydrogen atoms. When an atom absorbs energy, usually in the form of heat or light, the electrons gain energy and move to higher energy levels. However, these excited electrons tend to return to their ground state by releasing energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation.
The Balmer jump specifically refers to the leap from the second energy level to the first, resulting in the emission or absorption of a photon with a wavelength of approximately 364.6 nanometers. This jump corresponds to the visible light spectrum, specifically the ultraviolet region. Observing the Balmer jump allows scientists to analyze and understand the properties and behavior of atoms and molecules in various areas, including astronomy, physics, and chemistry.
In conclusion, the Balmer jump is a term used to describe the transition of electrons in hydrogen atoms from the second energy level to the first, resulting in the emission or absorption of a specific wavelength of light in the visible spectrum.
Etymology of BALMER JUMP
The term "Balmer jump" originates from the name of the Swiss physicist Johann Jakob Balmer. Balmer was the first to empirically determine a mathematical formula in 1885 that described the wavelengths of the spectral lines in the visible region of the hydrogen atom's emission spectrum. These spectral lines are known as the Balmer series.
The term "jump" in "Balmer jump" refers to a large discontinuity or change in the behavior of the electromagnetic radiation at a specific wavelength. In the case of the Balmer jump, it refers to the sudden decrease in intensity of radiation at a wavelength of about 3646 Ångstroms, corresponding to the transition between the n=2 and n=3 energy levels in the hydrogen atom. The Balmer jump is often used in astronomy to identify and study the properties of stars.
