6
QuizMultiple Choice

Atomic Spectra

Question 6 • Crowley Credit Recovery Physics B

What causes the appearance of lines in an emission spectrum?

Answer
A
Light is absorbed as an electron moves to a higher energy state.
B
Light is released as an electron moves to a lower energy state.
C
An electron is released as light when it moves to a lower energy state.
D
An electron is released as light when it moves to a higher energy state.

Explanation

An emission spectrum forms when an excited electron moves from a higher energy state to a lower one. The electron releases the energy difference as a photon of light, and the specific photon energies appear as lines in the spectrum. So the correct choice is “Light is released as an electron moves to a lower energy state.”

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