Final answer:
The correct answer is C) Farther distance = more energy, because an electron's energy increases as the distance from the nucleus increases, consistent with the electrostatic attraction between the electron and the protons in the nucleus.
Step-by-step explanation:
The relationship between the distance of an electron from the nucleus and its energy is described by the principle that the further away an electron is from the nucleus, the greater the energy it has. This concept is based on the electrostatic force of attraction between the positive charges of the protons in the nucleus and the negative charges of the electrons. In accordance with the Bohr model, higher energy orbits are located farther from the atomic nucleus, as it takes energy to move electrons away due to the attraction they feel towards the positively charged nucleus.
To put it simply, an electron's energy increases with increasing distance from the nucleus. The greater the value of the principal quantum number (n), the higher the energy level and the farther away the electron is from the nucleus. The correct answer to the student's question is: C) Farther distance = more energy.