Question

The alpha line in the balmer series of the hydrogen spectrum consists of light having a wavelength of 6.56. calculate the frequency of this light

Answer 1

The alpha line in the Balmer series is the transition from n=3 to n=2 and with the wavelength of λ=656 nm = 6.56*10^-7 m. To get the frequency we need the formula: v=λ*f where v is the speed of light, λ is the wavelength and f is the frequency, or c=λ*f. c=3*10^8 m/s. To get the frequency: f=c/λ. Now we input the numbers: f=(3*10^8)/(6.56*10^-7)=4.57*10^14 Hz. So the frequency of the light from alpha line is f= 4.57*10^14 Hz.