2006-07-03 14:12:39 · 19 answers · asked by Waru-bozu 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
An electron only gives off light when it releases energy to return to a stable orbit around a nucleus.
The amount the electron must travel to return to this stable orbit determines the wave length of the energy released so the color is dependent on the energy.
Red light means that a small amount of energy was stored in the electron before it was released
Blue light means that a large amount of energy was stored in the electron before it was released
and all the colors inbetween are of various energy levels.
2006-07-10 10:33:16 · answer #1 · answered by uqlue42 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This question a very good question. The color of an object is determined by the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation it either reflects, or gives off. This can be anything from infrared of UV light. Colors fall in a very specific range of this spectrum but there is still no simple answer.
However, if you want to see one possible color of an electron, try sticking a piece of tin foil in the microwave. The blue light radiating from the tinfoil is a product of elections emitting quantized energy in a process called the photoelectric effect.
If you want to see more colors of an electron, you can buy a spectroscope.
P.S. most of the information given by others answering this question is completly false.
2006-07-03 14:58:11 · answer #2 · answered by Dan 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The wavelength of visible light runs from 400 to 700 nanometers. The size of an atom , or an electron is far smaller. They're invisible. The concept of color doesn't apply.
P.S. That having been said, I "imagine" electrons as having a silvery color.
2006-07-03 14:21:38 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you're talking about quantum electro-dynamics (maybe I just like that word), then I doubt that electrons have colors. Only quarks. If you're talking about actual colors, then you have to remember that the concept of color is based on reflection. since reflection of light only occourswhen light meets atom, excites atom, atom spits back light. This requires an atom to separate the white light into colors. Furthermore, the wavelength of light is so long and the wavelength of an electron is so short that even if you shot light DIRECTLY AT AN ELECTRON it would probably miss it and pass right through.
2006-07-03 16:12:48 · answer #4 · answered by Chx 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Electrons don't have color. It's just a unit of electrical charge.
2006-07-03 14:15:51 · answer #5 · answered by Archangeleon 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
clear,
background info:
"The number of negatively charged electons in the cloud around a nucleus is the same as the number of protons in the nucleus, so the electric charges cancel out, and the electrons and their arrangement in the cloud determine the way the atom interacts with other atoms-its chemical properties. But it is the nucleus that determines the mass of an atom."
(just background info)...but as you can see, an electron is negatively charged, and thats all of what it is-a negatively charged atom, no color involved...
2006-07-03 14:45:18 · answer #6 · answered by poetic_lala 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At first I thought this was a silly question....
but if you think about it, electrons typically have a specific frequency (not sure what exactly that frequency is), so therefore it could be possible to have a "color".
2006-07-03 14:17:53 · answer #7 · answered by Steven B 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An Electron is a figament of Electricty, Therefore it has no color in particular
2006-07-03 14:23:50 · answer #8 · answered by IamatrainWRECK! 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
An electron is a charge of energy, I don't believe it would have a perceivable colour
2006-07-03 14:15:07 · answer #9 · answered by clone630271 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
color of electron is related to the de Broglie wavelength of electron
so it depends on speed with which it travels
λ=h/mv
so freq. η = mv^2/h
depending upon whether the freq. lies in visible or other range
u will see color
2006-07-03 20:31:44 · answer #10 · answered by yoovraj s 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋