The Universe's Barcode: Emission Absorption Spectral Lines Quiz

If an atom in a hot gas gains energy, then its electrons jump to higher levels. If those electrons fall back down, they release energy as light. If this light is viewed through a prism, we see only the specific colors produced by those jumps. Therefore, it appears as bright lines on a black background.

If every element has a different number of protons, then the pull on its electrons is unique. If that pull is unique, then the "steps" or energy levels are spaced differently for every element. Therefore, the light emitted or absorbed creates a unique "fingerprint" or barcode for that element.

If a full rainbow of light passes through a cooler gas, then the atoms in that gas will "grab" the specific photons that match their energy levels. If those photons are removed from the beam, then they leave behind dark gaps in the rainbow. Therefore, we see a pattern of dark lines called an absorption spectrum.

If we want to identify the chemicals in a light source, we must see the individual colors. If a tool uses a prism or a diffraction grating to separate these colors, it allows us to analyze the light. Therefore, that tool is a spectroscope.

If spectral lines are unique fingerprints for elements, then a matching pattern means the same element is present. If the star's "barcode" matches the Hydrogen "barcode," then Hydrogen must be in the star. Therefore, we can identify the star's composition from a distance.

If a spectrum is a solid rainbow with no gaps, it is called a "continuous" spectrum. If an absorption spectrum is formed by gas removing light, then it must have missing colors (dark lines). Therefore, the statement is false.

If an object is solid and hot, its atoms are crowded and interact constantly, smoothing out the energy levels. If the energy is released across all possible wavelengths, then it creates a full rainbow. Therefore, it produces a continuous spectrum.

If an electron is in a high-energy state, it is unstable. If it moves to a lower state, it must lose that extra energy to stay there. If that energy is released as light, it is sent out of the atom. Therefore, the atom emits a photon.

If we need a full rainbow to start with, we need a hot source. If we need lines to be removed, we need a cool gas to act as a filter. If we need to see the result, we need a tool to spread the light. Therefore, A, B, and D are necessary.

If every person has a unique fingerprint, they can be identified by it. If every element has a unique pattern of light lines that never changes, we can use those lines to identify the element. Therefore, they serve the same purpose as a fingerprint.

If energy levels are "quantized," then they are like rungs on a ladder. If you can stand on the first rung or the second rung, but cannot float in the air between them, then electrons are the same. Therefore, electrons can only exist at specific levels, never in between.

If the energy of light is defined by the rule E=hf, then energy (E) and frequency (f) are directly linked. If the frequency goes up (the wave wiggles faster), then the energy of that "packet" must also go up. Therefore, higher frequency light carries more energy.

If we list the visible spectrum from the longest wavelength to the shortest, we follow the acronym ROYGBIV. If the final letter stands for the color with the most energy and shortest wavelength, then it is Violet. Therefore, the answer is Violet.

If the gap between level 3 and 1 is larger than the gap between 2 and 1, then more energy is being lost. If more energy is lost, the photon produced must have higher energy. Therefore, the jump creates a different, more energetic color of light.

If light is made of oscillating electric and magnetic fields, then X-rays, Radio, Visible, and Gamma rays all fit that definition. If sound waves require a material like air to travel through, then they are mechanical, not electromagnetic. Therefore, A, B, D, and E are types of light.

If a star is moving, its spectral lines will shift their position (Doppler Effect). If the lines move toward the blue end, it is coming toward us; if they move toward the red, it is moving away. Therefore, the lines tell us about both composition and motion.

If a photon is created by an electron jump, its energy must match the size of that jump exactly. If every energy has a specific frequency or color, then the size of the jump dictates the color. Therefore, the "gap" in the atom determines the color we see.

If "spectro" refers to the pattern of light and "scopy" refers to observation or study, then combining them describes the science. If astronomers use this to study stars they cannot touch, they are practicing this field. Therefore, the answer is spectroscopy.

If the dense surface acts like a solid, it creates a full rainbow. If that rainbow light then passes through the thinner, cooler gas of the sun's atmosphere, those atoms will filter out specific colors. Therefore, the sun's light reaches us with dark absorption lines already in it.

If an element's electrons use the same energy "steps" to go up as they do to go down, then the energy needed is the same in both directions. If the energy is the same, the color (wavelength) is the same. Therefore, the bright lines of emission match the dark lines of absorption for that element.