Physics Factsheet

www.curriculum-press.co.uk Number 75

Line Spectra
The purpose of this Factsheet is to explain the appearance, origin and Origin of line spectra
significance of Line Spectra. Before studying the Factsheet, you should An emission line spectrum is produced by a hot gaseous element. At high
make sure that you are familiar with the idea of a spectrum from your temperatures the electrons of the atoms are excited into higher energy
GCSE course, and with the ideas of quantization of energy levels in an levels. When they drop back to a lower level, the energy is emitted at a
atom. specific frequency (wavelength) depending on the energy gap between the
levels, determined by the equation:
These ideas of Line Spectra are an important introduction to the
understanding of the ideas of Factsheet 51 The Electromagnetic Doppler
Effect and the Expanding Universe. E = hf Where E = energy level gap (J),
f = frequency of the observed spectral line (Hz)
Questions on line spectra are likely to occur on the PHY 4 Paper and also h = Plancks constant.
on PHY 6, the Synthesis Paper.
The observed lines are of frequency f, determined by the energy level
Appearance of Line Spectra gap and derived from the equation E = hf
You will be familiar with the idea of a continuous spectrum, as produced N.B. The energy levels may well be given in eV rather than J, so the
by a prism. As the name suggests, line spectra consist not of a continuous figure must be multiplied by 1.6 10-19 to convert eV to J.
band of different colours, but of discrete, separate lines. Each line is of a
given frequency (wavelength), representative of a particular element.
Significance of Line spectra
The existence of line spectra provides evidence for the existence of quantized
A line spectrum consists of discrete lines, each typical of the
energy levels in the atom. Observations of the line spectra for hydrogen
element concered.
the Lyman, Balmer, Paschen and Bracket Series enabled the energy levels
of the single electron of the hydrogen atom to be established and agreement
Observing Line Spectra in the laboratory between experimental evidence and predictions of the theory is very good,
Emission line spectra may be observed in the laboratory by viewing a thus giving confidence in the theory.
discharge tube with a diffraction grating. The tube contains a particular
element, e.g., sodium, which, when operated at appropriate voltage, Electron transitions for the hydrogen atom
vaporises. The hot vapour emits light. The diffraction grating allows the n =7
spectrum to be viewed, rather like the prism does for a continuous spectrum. n =6
n =5
n =4 Brackett series
E(n) to E(n=4)
n =3
Paschen series
E(n) to E(n=3)
n =2
High voltage Balmer series
E(n) to E(n=2)

n =1
Red Red yellow green blue violet Lyman series
E(n) to E(n=1)
intensity

Calculations of the frequencies of lines in spectra

Example:The ground state for the electron in a hydrogen atom is

13.6 eV, the first excited state is 3.4eV . Calculate the frequency of
the line in the spectrum representing this transition.
wavelength
E = hf, so (13.6 3.4) 1.6 10-19 = 6.63 10-34 f

10.2 1.6 10-19

Line spectra are observed by viewing a disharge tube with a f= = 2.46 1015Hz
diffraction grating 6.63 10-34

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75. Line Spectra Physics Factsheet

Absorption Spectra Exam Workshop

If white light (i.e. radiation of all frequencies this term is used for the This is a typical poor students answer to an exam question. The
whole EM spectrum, not just visible light) passes through a cooler vapour, comments explain what is wrong with the answers and how they can
then the spectrum observed is of a continuous coloured spectrum with be improved. The examiners mark scheme is given below.
dark lines in the positions where the bright lines would have been in an (a) Describe how you would produce and observe an emission line
emission spectrum. This is known as an absorption spectrum. spectrum in the laboratory. (2)
You would look at a discharge bulb through a slit 0/2
The absorption spectrum is formed as the vapour absorbs specific
frequencies from white light. These frequencies are linked to the energies The candidate has incorrectly described it as a bulb rather than a
required for the electrons to jump into higher excited states. When the discharge lamp, and has indicated a slit rather than a diffraction grating.
electrons later drop back into lower states, they emit radiation at these
same frequencies. However this radiation is emitted in all directions, so the (b) Describe what the spectrum would look like. (1)
intensity in the orginal direction is reduced. A series of lines 1/1

An absorption spectrum consists of dark lines where the While this is a very simplistic description, it is adequate for 1 mark.
bright lines would have been in an emission spectrum. It is formed If more marks were allocated for the question, then a better description
when white light passes through a cooler vapour. would be: a series of discrete bright lines against a dark background.

(c) Explain the origin of emission line spectra (3)

When the electrons in an atom change energy the line is emitted.
Importance of absorption spectra
1/3
Observations of the absorption spectra of the light from distant stars has
been used to identify which elements are present in the star. The white The candidate has shown understanding of energy change , but given
light passes through the cooler vapours of the outer layers of the star, no idea of quantized levels.
forming the absorption spectrum. The positions of the dark lines can be
compared with emission spectra of known elements on Earth.
(d) Explain how observation of absorption spectra helps to determine
the elemental make-up of a star. (4)
Each line represents a particular element, so you can tell which
Absorption spectra indicate what elements are present elements are there. 1/4
in stars.
The candidate has some understanding of the link between the lines
and the element, but this is obviously insufficient for 4 marks
Doppler Shift of line spectra from distant stars.
Factsheet 51 deals with this important aspect of the use of line spectra. Examiners Answers
Known spectral lines are found to be shifted slightly towards lower (a) You would view a gas discharge lamp with a diffraction grating.
frequencies (Red Shift). One explanation of this is that the source is moving
away and the speed of recession can be calculated from the theory. This (b) The spectrum is a series of discrete bright lines against a dark
provides evidence to support the Big Bang theory of the origin of the background.
Universe.
(c) Energy levels for the electrons in the atom are quantized. When an
excited electron drops back from a higher level to a lower level, the
Red Shift of line spectra suggests that galaxies are moving
energy is emitted as a photon of frequency given by: E = hf.
away from each other, and this supports the Big Bang theory of the
origin of the Universe.
(d) Absorption spectra are produced when white light passes through a
cooler vapour (such as the atmosphere of a star). Dark lines appear
where bright ones would have been in the emission spectrum for a
particular element, so comparison with known element emission
spectra identifies the elements.

Typical Exam Question

(a) Decribe the appearance and origin of an emission line spectrum. (5)
(b) Discus the similarities and differences between emission spectra and absorption spectra. You may be awarded a mark for the clarity
of your answer. (5)
(a) An emission line spectrum consists of discrete bright lines against a dark background. It arises because electrons in the atom cannot take any
value of energy, only certain allowable levels. In a hot vapour, the electrons are excited into higher energy levels and when they drop back to the
ground state in stages, the energy difference between levels is emitted as a photon of frequency given by E = hf, where E is the energy
difference, h is Plancks constant and f the frequency.

(b) Both emission and absorption spectra consist of discrete lines at certain frequencies, but the absorption spectrum has bright lines against a
dark background at the same frequencies which the emission spectrum has as bright lines against a dark background.
Both occur because of electron movement between allowable levels, but emission are due to excited electrons dropping down into lower levels,
whereas absorption are due to electrons being excited into higher levels. Emission occurs from hot vapours, whereas absorption occurs when
white light (all frequencies) passes through cooler vapour.

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75. Line Spectra Physics Factsheet

Questions Answers
1. What is an emission line spectrum? 1. See text.

2. Why does an absorption line spectrum occur when white light passes 2. When white light passes through a cooler vapour, frequencies
through a cooler vapour? appropriate to allowable transitions between energy levels in the atom
are absorbed and electrons go into higher energy levels. Later, they
3. How can observation of absorption spectra be used to identify the drop back, but the photons are emitted in all directions, whereas the
elements present in the atmosphere of a star? original energy was absorbed from the forward direction, so the specific
frequency appears darker.
4. (a) What is meant by Red Shift of line spectra?
(b) Explain how the red shift of the line spectra of distance galaxies 3. The frequencies of absorption lines in the spectra from stars can be
provides evidence to support the Big Bang theory. compared with the emission lines in spectra of known elements and
the elements in the atmosphere of the star identified.
5. Explain how emission spectra support the idea of quantization of
energy levels. 4. (a) Red Shift is the slight shifting of known frequencies in the
absorption spectra of distant stars to lower values (longer
6. The diagram shows some of the energy levels for atomic hydrogen. wavelength).

(b) The most likely explanation for the red shift is that the source is
D -0.85 ev moving away (Doppler effect). This implies that galaxies are now
C -1.5 ev moving away from one another, i.e. they were originally all in the
same place Big Bang theory.
B -3.4 ev
5. From a study of the Lyman series of lines in a hydrogen spectrum,
possible values for the energy levels can then be worked out. These
A -13.6 ev values can then be used to predict other series which should exist.
Good agreement between theory and observation confirms the theory.

(a) Calculate the wavelength of the line which would appear in a line 6. (a) E = (13.6 1.5) 1.6 10-19J
spectrum for the transition between the levels marked A and C. 12.1 1.6 10-19
so, f = , c = f
6.63 10-34
(b) Which transition represents a photon absorbed with the shortest 3 108 6.63 10-34
so = = 1.03 10-7m
wavelength. (12.1 1.6 10-19)

(c) Which transition represents a photon emitted with the longest (b) A D . In absorption, the electron is excited to a higher level.
wavelength. Shortest wavelength is the highest frequency, therefore the largest
energy gap.
(c) D C . In emission, the electron drops back to a lower level.
Longest wavelength is lowest frequency, therefore the smallest
energy gap

Acknowledgements:
This Physics Factsheet was researched and written by Janet Jones
The Curriculum Press,Bank House, 105 King Street, Wellington, Shropshire, TF1 1NU
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