Final answer:
The inner circular rings within the 's' subshells of an atom are not a part of the higher 's' subshells. Each 's' subshell is distinct in size and energy level, and they possess a spherical shape that increases with the principal quantum number.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student asked whether the inner circular rings in higher 's' subshells are part of inner 's' subshells. To clarify this, in atomic structure, each principal shell can have one or more subshells, and each subshell contains a certain number of orbitals, which have specific shapes. The 's' subshells across different principal shells (like 1s, 2s, 3s, etc.) are characterized by their spherical electron density distribution. When we say a subshell is 'higher' or 'lower,' we're referring to its principal quantum number, which indicates its relative size and energy. The 's' subshell within each principal shell is spherical and increases in size with the principal quantum number. Therefore, the 's' orbital in the 2n shell is larger than in the 1n shell, but each 's' orbital is its own distinct, spherical space within an atom. The inner circular rings are part of their own 's' subshells and are not part of the higher 's' subshells. Each 's' subshell is separate and distinct in terms of size and energy level, even though they all share the same spherical shape.