When the spectrum of light from the Sun is examined in high
resolution in an experiment similar to that illustrated in Figure
6.9, dark lines are evident. These are called Fraunhofer
lines, after the scientist who studied them extensively in the
early nineteenth century. Altogether, about 25,000 lines have
been identified in the solar spectrum between 2950 Å and
10,000 Å. The Fraunhofer lines are attributed to absorption
of certain wavelengths of the Sun’s “white” light by gaseous
elements in the Sun’s atmosphere. (a) Describe the process
that causes absorption of specific
the solar spectrum. (b) To determine which Fraunhofer lines
belong to a given element, say, neon, what experiments could
a scientist conduct here on Earth?
Trending now
This is a popular solution!
Step by step
Solved in 2 steps
