nucleus
The model of an atom in Figure below has six energy levels. The level with the least energy is the one closest to the nucleus. As you go farther from the nucleus, the levels have more and more energy. Electrons can jump from one energy level to another. If an atom absorbs energy, some of its electrons can jump to a higher energy level. If electrons jump to a lower energy level, the atom emits, or gives off, energy. You can see an animation at this happening at the URL below.