The Spectrum

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The Spectrum Quiz

  The colors of the rainbow are produced when raindrops bend sunlight in a way similar to the action of a prism. Which wavelengths are bent more, red or blue?  
 

1: The red wavelengths are bent more.
2: The blue wavelengths are bent more.
3: Actually, it is neither, as the yellow wavelengths are bent most.
4: It is neither because it is an illusion in the first place.

ANSWER: Click here for the correct answer.

     
  What kind of spectrum would lava, an incandescent liquid, exhibit?  
  1: Glowing lava has a continuous spectrum.
2: Lava would exhibit an emission spectrum.
3: Lava does not exhibit a spectrum.
4: It would show a strong absorption spectrum.

ANSWER: Click here for the correct answer.

     
  Imagine that you are in a lab observing the spectrum of a heated, uncompressed, gas. You see all the prominent lines of hydrogen, but there are a number of lines that don't belong to the hydrogen spectrum. What do you think is the most likely explanation?  
  1: You have made a new discovery about the hydrogen spectrum.
2: The spectroscope is broken.
3: You have a vision impairment.
4: There is another gas in the sample contributing the lines that are not from hydrogen.

ANSWER: Click here for the correct answer.

  A certain atom has electron energy levels of 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. A photon comes flying through with an energy level corresponding to 3.5. It heads straight for the electron, which currently is in the energy level 3. What happens?  
  1: The two energy levels add together and the electron jumps to energy level 6.5
2: Nothing would happen. The photon would pass through.
3: If the photon hit the electron, the electron would fall down to the ground level.
4: The electron would absorb the photon and begin to glow.

ANSWER: Click here for the correct answer.