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mo42 · 10-07-2004, 07:09 PM

I understand that, except for the "hitting the atom" part. How does "hitting the atom" jump the electron up in energy? What part of the atom does it hit? As I said, I would guess electron if I had to, because it's the thing that is affected by it, I haven't read that in any physics books, just wondering if there's a source.

As for reflection, how is the photon reflected? Is there some kind of insane localized super-gravity field that the electron runs into and then bends and shoots off the other way compared to the plane of electron shells created by the mirror? Or does the photon actually "bounce" like a ball off the surface of the earth?

10-07-2004, 07:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
mo42 Insane Location: California	I understand that, except for the "hitting the atom" part. How does "hitting the atom" jump the electron up in energy? What part of the atom does it hit? As I said, I would guess electron if I had to, because it's the thing that is affected by it, I haven't read that in any physics books, just wondering if there's a source. As for reflection, how is the photon reflected? Is there some kind of insane localized super-gravity field that the electron runs into and then bends and shoots off the other way compared to the plane of electron shells created by the mirror? Or does the photon actually "bounce" like a ball off the surface of the earth? __________________ It's not getting what you want, it's wanting what you've got. Last edited by mo42; 10-07-2004 at 08:59 PM..