Photon hits an atom

From: Doodedski (billybilly54321_at_hotmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid)
Date: 11/13/04 

Date: 12 Nov 2004 19:29:42 -0600

I've been reading my notes on a course on relativity I did and several
examples talk about a photon hitting an atom. The atom is said to
then have a kinetic energy equal to the energy of the photon. I just
don't see how this happens. My friend says that when a photon has an
energy less than the gap between two energy levels of an electron,
this electron can absorb the photon and transfer the energy
(instantly) to the atom. I just don't see this being possible (an
electron will only absorb energy of a photon if it matches a gap).
Who's right, and what is going on in these examples?
Thanks,
Dood

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