Question

How would you compare and contrast the continuous spectrum and emission spectrum.

Answer 1

Hint: The continuous spectrum and emission spectrum are the spectrum formed by the interaction of atoms with the electromagnetic radiation. In continuous spectrum a band of color is observed.

Complete step by step answer:
The atomic spectra is the study of atoms and atomic ions through their interaction with electromagnetic radiation. When the light travels from one medium to another, it bends towards the normal or away from the normal. The speed of light is dependent on the nature of the medium through which it passes.
When the electromagnetic radiation interacts with atoms, electrons present in the atom absorb energy and jump to higher energy states and lose their stability. To regain the stability back, they require to move back to the lower energy state. The atom now releases radiation in various regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. This spectrum of radiation emitted by electrons in the excited atom is known as emission spectrum.
When the white light falls on the prism, refraction takes place twice. When the light travels from rarer medium to denser medium and back again from denser medium to rarer medium, a band of colour is observed. In this spectrum colour ranging from red to violet where red having longer wavelength which suffers least deviations. This spectrum is known as continuous spectrum as violet color merges with the blue color and so on.
In the emission spectrum, continuous spread of wavelength from one colour to another is not seen. The emitted light consists of specific wavelengths containing dark patches between them.

Note:
The example of continuous spectrum is rainbow. The colour is displayed within the visible spectrum which ranges from 380-760 nm.