The only visible spectral lines of hydrogen are the four Balmerseries lines (transitions to n=2). We wish to cause hydrogen gas toglow with all its characteristic visible colors.
a) To how high an energy level must the electrons beexcited?
b) Energy is absorbed in collisions with other particles. Assumethat after absorbing energy in one collision, an electron jumpsdown through lower levels so rapidly so that it is in the groundstate before the collision occurs. If an electron is to be raisedto the level found in part (a), how much energy must be availablein a single collision?
c) If such energetic collisions are to be effected simply byheating a gas until the average KE equals the desired upward energyjump, what temperature would be required?
