AS Physics - Using Radiation to Investigate Stars

Spectra

An absorption spectrum shows the whole continuous spectrum of colours with a missing wavelenghth where an element is present.
An emission spectrum has a black background with coloured lies representing an elements wavelength.

How they are produced

Emission spectra- Electricity or geat gives electrons energy to move up to higher energy levels, when they move back down they release energy in the form of light. The light passes through a spectrum and is split up into different wavelenths against a black background.

Absorption spectra- A white light is given out by a star which emits a continuous spectrum. The photos of light are absorbed by the cold…