Emission Spectra
Contents
Key Stage 4
Meaning
Emission spectra are the specific wavelengths of light emitted by the electrons in atoms as they lose energy.
About Emission Spectra
- An emission spectrum is made by providing energy to a material and focusing any light emitted through a prism to separate the colours.
- The spectrum of white light is a continuous change of colours with all wavelengths having the same intensity.
- An emission spectrum is a set of specific wavelengths with a high intensity. This appears as bright lines of colour on a spectrum.
- A emission spectrum is created when excited electrons (electrons in high energy levels) lose energy and fall to a lower energy level emitting a specific wavelength of electromagnetic wave when they do.
- The wavelengths of electromagnetic wave depend on the energy difference between the energy levels in atoms.
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| This diagram shows an excited electron losing energy by emitting an electromagnetic wave. As it does this the electron falls back down to a lower energy level. |