Lecture II

Light spectra

The Birth of the Quantum• Max Planck

– The energy contained in radiation is related to the frequency of the radiation by the relationship

• n is a positive integer called the quantum number• f is the frequency of the oscillation

– A discreet packet of energy, later to become known as “a photon”

nhfE

Implications of Planck’s Law

• The energy levels of the molecules must be discreet

• Only transitions by an amount E=hf are allowed

• The implication is that light is discreet or quantised

These quantum levels are known as number states

43210

4hf3hf2hf1hf0

energy n

Spectroscope

Three Types of Spectra

Spectral Analysis of the Elements

Continuous Spectrum: a collection all possible wavelengths/ frequencies of light

Studying the light emitted by an object in order to know something about that object!

Emission Spectra

Pattern of bright spectral lines produced by an element.

Absorption Spectra

Pattern of dark spectral lines where light within a number of narrow frequency ranges has been removed.

HeliumArgon

NeonKrypton

Bright Line Emission Spectra

Hydrogen

Wavelength

Kirchoff’s Laws• 1st law1st law: A luminous solid or

liquid, or a sufficiently dense gas, emits light of all wavelengths and produces a continuous spectrum of radiation.

• 2nd law2nd law: A low-density hot gas emits light whose spectrum consists of a series of bright emission lines which are characteristic of the chemical composition of the gas.

• 3rd law3rd law: A cool thin gas absorbs certain wavelengths from a continuous spectrum, leaving dark absorption lines in their place superimposed on the continuous spectrum.

Spectra and BackgroundType of spectrum seen depends on the temperature of the

thin gas relative to the background temperature.

TOP: thin gas cooler than background, absorption lines seen.

BOTTOM: thin gas hotter than background, emission lines seen.

Studying the Stars:

Analyzing the light from a star can tell us:

1. The composition of the star.2. The relative motion & rotation of the star.3. The star’s temperature.

Shows limited Range of Light Energies Reaching Earth’s Surface