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Q: Why is sunlight's spectra called a continuous spectrum?
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What is the difference between a continuous spectrum an a line spectrum?

Dispersion, the separation of visible light into a spectrum, may be accomplished by means of a prism or a diffraction grating. Each different wavelength or frequency of visible light corresponds to a different color, so that the spectrum appears as a band of colors ranging from violet at the short-wavelength (high-frequency) end of the spectrum through indigo, blue, green, yellow, and orange, to red at the long-wavelength (low-frequency) end of the spectrum. In addition to visible light, other types of electromagnetic radiation may be spread into a spectrum according to frequency or wavelength. The spectrum formed from white light contains all colors, or frequencies, and is known as a continuous spectrum. Continuous spectra are produced by all incandescent solids and liquids and by gases under high pressure. A gas under low pressure does not produce a continuous spectrum but instead produces a line spectrum, i.e., one composed of individual lines at specific frequencies characteristic of the gas, rather than a continuous band of all frequencies. If the gas is made incandescent by heat or an electric discharge, the resulting spectrum is a bright-line, or emission, spectrum, consisting of a series of bright lines against a dark background. A dark-line, or absorption, spectrum is the reverse of a bright-line spectrum; it is produced when white light containing all frequencies passes through a gas not hot enough to be incandescent. It consists of a series of dark lines superimposed on a continuous spectrum, each line corresponding to a frequency where a bright line would appear if the gas were incandescent. The Fraunhofer lines appearing in the spectrum of the sun are an example of a dark-line spectrum; they are caused by the absorption of certain frequencies of light by the cooler, outer layers of the solar atmosphere. Line spectra of either type are useful in chemical analysis, since they reveal the presence of particular elements. The instrument used for studying line spectra is the spectroscope.


What is the arrangement of electromagnetic waves according to their wavelengths and frequencies called?

That's called the electromagnetic spectrum.


What are the 12 colors of the spectrum called?

Hues (Apex)


What is a continuous loop of moving air liquid that transfers energy called?

A continuous loop of moving air is called


What are the pieces of light called?

electromagnetic spectrum

Related questions

What do you call a prism spreading out light into colors?

It is called Visible light Spectrum.


When heated each element produces a series of thin colored lines called?

Spectrum or spectra


Why are emission spectra called the fingerprints of the elements?

Because an emission spectrum is specific to an element.It can be used to identify the element


What is the difference between a continuous spectrum an a line spectrum?

Dispersion, the separation of visible light into a spectrum, may be accomplished by means of a prism or a diffraction grating. Each different wavelength or frequency of visible light corresponds to a different color, so that the spectrum appears as a band of colors ranging from violet at the short-wavelength (high-frequency) end of the spectrum through indigo, blue, green, yellow, and orange, to red at the long-wavelength (low-frequency) end of the spectrum. In addition to visible light, other types of electromagnetic radiation may be spread into a spectrum according to frequency or wavelength. The spectrum formed from white light contains all colors, or frequencies, and is known as a continuous spectrum. Continuous spectra are produced by all incandescent solids and liquids and by gases under high pressure. A gas under low pressure does not produce a continuous spectrum but instead produces a line spectrum, i.e., one composed of individual lines at specific frequencies characteristic of the gas, rather than a continuous band of all frequencies. If the gas is made incandescent by heat or an electric discharge, the resulting spectrum is a bright-line, or emission, spectrum, consisting of a series of bright lines against a dark background. A dark-line, or absorption, spectrum is the reverse of a bright-line spectrum; it is produced when white light containing all frequencies passes through a gas not hot enough to be incandescent. It consists of a series of dark lines superimposed on a continuous spectrum, each line corresponding to a frequency where a bright line would appear if the gas were incandescent. The Fraunhofer lines appearing in the spectrum of the sun are an example of a dark-line spectrum; they are caused by the absorption of certain frequencies of light by the cooler, outer layers of the solar atmosphere. Line spectra of either type are useful in chemical analysis, since they reveal the presence of particular elements. The instrument used for studying line spectra is the spectroscope.


Dispersing light from a hot wire which emits white light gives what type of spectrum is it?

A hot, glowing wire emits all wavelengths (or colors) of light. This is sometimes called "blackbody radiation." Since all colors are present, you will get a continuous spectrum.


What type of spectrum is produced when the light emitted directly from a hot dense object passes through a prism?

Its called atomic spectrum


Is the spacing between the lines in the spectrum of an element constant or does it vary?

The spacing between the lines in the spectrum of an element are constant. This is called the emission spectrum of an element. Each element has a unique emission spectra that will be the same each time.


What is it called when all wavelengths are present there are no gaps from extreme red to extreme violet?

A continuous spectrum


What is a continous spectrum?

violet with shortest wave length is deviated most this type of spectrum ranging from violet and one end red at other and without any discontinuous is called continuous spectrum


Does the Sun produce a continuous spectrum or an absorption spectrum?

The photosphere of the sun doesn't really produce a continuous spectrum; there are discontinuities corresponding to energy levels of various chemical elements, called spectral lines. Notably Helium was discovered in the absorption lines of the solar spectrum and only later discovered on Earth.


What is the atomic emission spectra?

The colors of light given off when an element loses energy


Which type of spectrum do most stars have?

Most stars have absorption spectra. In other words, stars possess thin outer layers that allow light to pass through. These layers produce what are called absorption lines. This means the light from the sun and stars are absorption spectra.