The Importance Of Spectroscopy

Spectroscopy is the study of light according to its wavelength and the interaction between matter and electromagnetic radiation. Using spectroscopy, astronomers can infer physical properties of specific objects such as temperature, mass, luminosity, and composition. To first understand this, people must realize that light acts like a wave. Light also has particle-like properties too. An example of this is to picture standing in an ocean and watching the many waves come past you. Waves are disturbance ripples on the water and they have a certain height also known as amplitude. It also possess a certain number of waves rushing past you every minute, which is also known as the frequency. To add on, all of the waves are moving at a speed across

On the other hand, high energy waves are known as a short wavelength. Astronomers study light from distant objects. They do this by using many different tool includeing images, light curves, and spectra. A single spectra is called a spectrum, which is a measure of the intensity of the light as a function of wavelength or energy, and this study is known as spectroscopy. Spectra can help a person identify individual elements in an astronomical object. Prisms separate white light into constituent colors. When white light is shined through a prism, one can see a rainbow. That rainbow is basically the spectrum and one can see the intensity of the light at different wavelengths by looking at the rainbow. Astronomers also plot out the intensity versus energy graph as a way to almost visuals the rainbow colors. As shown, spectroscopy is extremely important in determining the physical properties of a specific

Usually, one can observe two distinct classes of spectra which include continuous and discrete. For a continuous spectrum, the light is composed of a wide, on going range of colors or energies. With discrete spectra, a person can only see bright or dark lines at very precise and defined energies. Discrete spectra with bright lines are called emission spectra and is emitted by a source. Others with dark lines are referred to as absorption spectra, due to absorption of specific wavelengths. On going spectra comes from dense and heavy gases and or solid objects. These radiate their heat through the process and production of light. Other objects emit light over a broad range of wavelengths. An example of this is starts. Stars emit light in a not completely, continuous spectrum. Other examples of objects are electric cooking stove burners, flames, cooling fire embers, and humans. Humans emit a continuous spectrum; however, the light waves that a person emits are not visible. These waves stay at infrared wavelengths, also known as lower energies and longer wavelengths. Each element on the periodic table has its own set of possible energy levels. Atoms also tend to settle to the lowest energy level which is also called the ground state. This means that an “excited” atom in a higher energy level must lose some of its energy. The way an atom takes away the energy is by emitting a wave of light with that exact and persie amount of energy. The