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The ground state energy of hydrogen atom is -13.6 eV, then the potential energy of the electron in this state will be ________.

Asked in GUJCET 2024 · Energy levels and ionisation

• (1) -27.2 eV
• (2) 27.2 eV
• (3) 13.6 eV
• (4) -6.8 eV

Step-by-step solution

Why the other options are wrong

• (2) 27.2 eV has the right size but the wrong sign; the proton attracts the electron, and an attractive pair has U<0. A positive U would describe two charges pushing each other apart.
• (3) 13.6 eV is the kinetic energy, K=-E. It is also the magnitude of the number given in the stem, which is the total energy and not the potential energy.
• (4) -6.8 eV halves the total energy where it should be doubled: this is E/2, whereas U=2E.

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