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do atoms emit photons exactly in the opposite direction that photons are consumed in?
wont this angle if multiplied enough change the trajectory of the first photon?
3 Answers
- Andrew SmithLv 78 years agoFavorite Answer
When a photon is absorbed by an atom it raises the electron to a higher energy orbit.
At this point the photon ceases to exist.
At some later time the atom MAY release a photon which may even be of a different amount of energy.
As the electron may be at any point within its orbit the newly created photon would be released in any direction entirely at random.
- PaulLv 78 years ago
If they did emit photons in exactly the opposite direction then you'd have a mirror, if they emit the absorbed photon in exactly the same direction or refracted slightly they'd be transparent like glass. Otherwise the light is scattered and they are opaque.
- Anonymous8 years ago
no, they are emitted in a load of different directions in most cases of photon scattering by individual atoms.
the trajectory of the original photon has been changed quite a bit if it has been consumed?
