- Joined
- Jun 25, 2017
- Messages
- 24
- Reaction score
- 24
Hi there,
Not sure if there is a policy about posting AAMC questions from the practice material or not but I have seen a couple so I thought it's okay please correct me if I am wrong there, anyways I have clearly marked the title so hopefully no one who doesn't want to see this will.
The question asks "The principal quantum number is a measure of which of the following?"
Principal quantum number refers to n, n defines the overall energy of the orbital, the closets answer was the radial size so I picked that and it was the correct answer. BUT the explanation makes me pause. It claims:
"...Since potential energy is proportional to the square of the distance of two oppositely charged particles by Coulomb's law.."
What in the world are they talking about? Coloumb's law clearly states that U=kqq/r. There is no square here, are they confusing the equation for force? Which is F=kqq/r^2 (it isn't the first AAMC question with a correct answer but bogus explanation that I've run into, but every-time I want to make sure since it is after-all the AAMC...)
Anyways, is there a different equation that relates POTENTIAL energy to the square of distance that I am not aware of?
Not sure if there is a policy about posting AAMC questions from the practice material or not but I have seen a couple so I thought it's okay please correct me if I am wrong there, anyways I have clearly marked the title so hopefully no one who doesn't want to see this will.
The question asks "The principal quantum number is a measure of which of the following?"
Principal quantum number refers to n, n defines the overall energy of the orbital, the closets answer was the radial size so I picked that and it was the correct answer. BUT the explanation makes me pause. It claims:
"...Since potential energy is proportional to the square of the distance of two oppositely charged particles by Coulomb's law.."
What in the world are they talking about? Coloumb's law clearly states that U=kqq/r. There is no square here, are they confusing the equation for force? Which is F=kqq/r^2 (it isn't the first AAMC question with a correct answer but bogus explanation that I've run into, but every-time I want to make sure since it is after-all the AAMC...)
Anyways, is there a different equation that relates POTENTIAL energy to the square of distance that I am not aware of?
