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Article #588Re: Why does a solid have a continuous spectrum?
From: Edwin Schweber
Date: Wed, 01 Mar 1995 04:59
Date: Wed, 01 Mar 1995 04:59
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1694 bytes
On Tue, 28 Feb 1995, Peter Schmurr wrote: > Individual atoms of an element exhibit a bright line emission spectrum. > Why is it that a solid sample of the same substance does not? ...................................................................... James C Kernohan replied: : This continuous spectrum is created by the thermal energy of the : atoms/molecules in a substance. Because the atoms have a temperature : above absolute zero, they all have a random velocity. The higher the : temperature, the higher the average kinetic energy. But note that one : can only dicuss the average kinetic energy, there is a range of : values. Since the atoms can have almost any KE and thus vibrational : frequency, they can give off almost any (and indeed every) frequency : of radiation. ....................................................................... But if the continuous spectrum is simply the result of a doppler shift, would this not also occur with gasses? Ed Schweber e-mail: EdSchweb@ix.netcom.com
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X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 16cfd8,fedeace819de46f4,start X-Google-Attributes: gid16cfd8,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 1995-03-02 18:33:34 PST Path: arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!bga.com!news.sprintlink.net!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!gatech!paladin.american.edu!auvm!IX.NETCOM.COM!EdSchweb Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU Newsgroups: bit.listserv.physhare Message-ID: <199503010459.UAA06144@ix3.ix.netcom.com> Date: Tue, 28 Feb 1995 20:59:28 -0800 Sender: Sharing resources for high school physics <PHYSHARE@PSUVM.PSU.EDU> From: Edwin Schweber <EdSchweb@IX.NETCOM.COM> Subject: Re: Why does a solid have a continuous spectrum? Lines: 22