Astro 7N Spectroscopy

Why do different elements have different spectrums?

Because each atom of an element has a unique set of electron orbits

The electrons in a cloud of hydrogen gas are making the transition from excited states to the ground state. What does the spectrum of this cloud of hydrogen gas look like?

It will consist of a few bright emission lines at specific wavelengths.

When do photons and electrons interact?

Only photons corresponding to the existing energy differences between energy levels will be absorbed by the electron

Which of the following is FALSE: a) The energy of a photon increases in proportion to the wavelength of the radiation. b) Visible light, radio, ultraviolet, and gamma rays are all forms of electromagnetic radiation. c) The wavelength of the emission lines produced by an element are the same as the wavelengths of an absorption line produced by the same element. d) Emission spectra are characterized by narrow, bright lines of different colors. e) An absorption spectrum appears as a continuous spectrum interrupted by a series of dark lines.

a) The energy of a photon increases in proportion to the wavelength of the radiation.

Which of the following is TRUE: a) More than one element can have the same emission or absorption spectrum. b) The wavelengths of the emission lines produced by an element are different from the wavelengths of the absorption lines produced by the same elements. c) An absorption spectrum appears as continuous spectrum interrupted by a series of dark lines. d) An electron can have any energy within an atom, so long as that energy is above the ground state energy. e) Ultraviolet light has the shortest wavelength of any electromagnetic radiation.

c) An absorption spectrum appears as continuous spectrum interrupted by a series of dark lines.

What causes the black lines in an absorption spectra?

cooler materials between the light-emitting object and the observer. Certain energy levels are absorbed by the air. Particular energies of light coming from a distant object are absorbed by material in between.

The spectrum of an oxygen lamp looks different than the spectrum of a sodium lamp because:

each atom has a unique set of electron orbits

In what region of the EM spectrum would a human being radiate most?

infrared

Dark lines in an absorption spectrum represent:

particular energies of light coming from a distant object that are absorbed by material in between

In what region of the EM spectrum would an object near Absolute Zero radiate most?

radio waves

In what region of the EM spectrum would an object at 6000k radiate the most?

visible light