Figure 13-6Electron Spin and the Hydrogen Atom Due to their spins, electrons and protons both act as tiny magnets. When an electron and the proton it orbits are spinning in the same direction, their energy is higher than when they are spinning in opposite directions. When the electron flips from the higher-energy to the lower-energy configuration, the atom loses a tiny amount of energy that is radiated as a radio photon with a wavelength of 21 cm (8.3 in).