Franck-Hertz experiment
The Franck-Hertz experiment, conducted in 1914, demonstrated that atoms can only absorb energy in specific amounts, known as quantized energy levels. In the experiment, electrons were fired through a gas, and when they gained enough energy, they excited the gas atoms to higher energy states. This caused the electrons to lose energy, which was detected as a drop in their current. The results showed that energy absorption is not continuous but occurs at discrete intervals, supporting the idea of quantized energy levels in atomic physics and helping to establish the foundation for quantum mechanics.
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The Franck-Hertz experiment, conducted in 1914, demonstrated the quantized nature of energy levels in atoms. In the experiment, electrons were accelerated toward a gas (usually neon) and collided with its atoms. The results showed that electrons could only transfer energy to the gas atoms in specific amounts, causing the atoms to become excited. When the electrons lost enough energy to excite the atoms, they were detected less frequently. This confirmed that energy levels in atoms are discrete, not continuous, supporting the early development of quantum theory and our understanding of atomic structure.