Question

what is the difference between continuous spectra and line spectra?​

Answer 1

The main difference between continuous spectrum and line spectrum is that line spectra can be seen as either isolated emission lines or absorption lines, with huge gaps between them, whereas continuous spectra do not contain gaps and can be produced by superimposing the emission and absorption spectra of the same.

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Answer 2

Explanation:

The continuous spectrum is a spectrum in which there are no missing lines

For example, the visible spectrum is a continuous spectrum.

First of all, let's understand the meaning of spectrum.

Light rays consist of photons and when these photons strike electrons in an atom the electrons are excited to a higher orbit.

Due to this excitation electrons absorb energy in the form of photons.

Now the transition needs a specific amount of energy, that is, for example, an electron of Hydrogen will need 10.2eV.

Now, as we know that photons of different wavelength carry a different amount of energy. The electron would absorb the photon of energy equal to the energy required by the electron. It will not absorb a photon of energy different from that of energy required by it.

So the Photons of that specific wavelength will be missing from the spectrum because they will be absorbed by electrons.

Thus the spectra will become discontinuous.

Similarly, when electrons de-excite they return to a lower orbit from a higher orbit so they emit a photon containing energy equal to the energy difference between the orbits.

These photons are of specific energy so of a specific wavelength.

Thus only lines missing from the absorption spectrum are visible in the emission spectrum.

(absorption spectrum is the spectrum obtained after some of its wavelength have been used for excitation. The emission spectrum is the spectrum containing the wavelengths emitted during de-excitation.

Now since only some lines are present in the absorption/emission spectrum they are called line spectrum.

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