Spectral lines

&

Spectroscopy

Structure of the Atom

Proton Neutron Electron Quantized Energy Levels

Quantized Energy Levels

Excitation

There are two ways to get electrons excited.

Add Heat/Energy to the Atoms
This causes collisions.

Shine Light on the Atoms

Atoms can absorb light.

De-excitation

When an electron makes a transition to a lower energy level a photon (light) is released. See animations on CD.

Kirchhoffs First Law

Hot, dense gases or solids produce a continuous spectrum.

Example: Light bulb filament

Continuous Spectrum

Kirchhoffs Second Law

Hot, low density gas produces an emission line spectrum.

Example: Neon sign

Emission Line Spectrum

Kirchhoffs Third Law

Cool gas in front of a continuous source of light produces an absorption line spectrum.
Example: The Sun

Absorption Spectrum

The Kirchhoff-Bunsen Experiment

These two scientists found that burning chemicals over an open flame resulted in a spectrum with bright lines.

They found that each chemical element produced its own characteristic pattern of bright spectral lines.

Emission Spectra

Spectral lines occur when an electron jumps from one energy level to another. Each chemical element produces its own unique pattern of spectral lines (like a fingerprint).

Example Question

What two things can you do to atoms to cause electrons in the ground state to jump to the first excited state?
Add Heat Add Light

Matching Questions
Type of Spectrum 1. Emission Spectra Appearance a. All Colors

2. Continuous Spectra
3. Absorption Spectra

b. Dark Lines
c. Bright Lines

Matching Questions
1. Emission Spectra
2.

a. Hot Solids b. Cooler gases around Stars c. Hot Thin Gases

Continuous Spectra

3. Absorption Spectra

Spectra

See animations interactives website: http://highered.mcgrawhill.com/sites/0072482621/information_cen ter_view0/interactives.html (see the Bohr Atom)

How do these spectra apply to stars?

If there is hydrogen in the cooler gas outside the star, the hydrogen lines will be absorbed.

Compare these spectra.

Spectrum of Hydrogen in Lab Spectrum a Star

What do these spectra tell us about the star?

Measuring a Stars Composition

Each atom absorbs a unique combination of wavelengths of light. From this we can determine the composition of a star. Stars are composed of mostly hydrogen.

Compare these spectra.

Spectrum of Hydrogen in Lab Spectrum of a Star

What do these spectra tell us about the star?

Measuring a Stars Motion

The spectral lines of a star moving away from the Earth exhibit a redshift. The spectral lines of a star moving toward the Earth exhibit a blueshift. These shifts are caused by the Doppler effect.

v c

The wavelength of a radio wave is 10.0 cm. An astronomer measures the wavelength from a star to be 10.001 cm. Using v 3x105km/s for the speed of light.calculate the speed of the star. c = 0.001 cm = 10 cm c = 3x105km/s 0.001 cm = v _ 10 cm 3x105km/s (cross multiply&solve) v = 30 km/s

Example

Compare these spectra.

Spectrum of Hydrogen in Lab

Spectrum a Star..Day 1

Spectrum a Star..Day 2

Spectrum a Star..Day 3

Spectrum a Star..Day 4

What do these spectra tell us about the star?

Mystery Star Properties

1. The star appears as a point of light through a telescope. 2. The absorption lines appear split and move over a 4 day period. 3. The brightness of the star also varies over 4 days.
Question: Why do you think the brightness of the star is varying? Answer: This could be an eclipsing binary star system that cannot be resolved by a telescope!

Eclipsing binary

Matching Questions
1. The temperature of a star can be determined from its_____________. 2. The pattern of the absorption spectral lines for a star contains information about a stars________________. 3. The Doppler shift of a star's spectral lines tells us something about the stars_______________.

(a) composition (b) motion (c) color