The spectrum of sunlight, when spread out by a spectrograph, has which characteristic appearance?
A) continuous band of color, crossed by innumerable emission lines
B) continuous band of color, crossed by innumerable dark absorption lines
C) series of separate emission lines, characteristic of many elements, that overlap in certain regions of the spectrum to produce short continuum segments
D) continuous and uniform band of color from violet to deep red

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The spectrum of sunlight, when spread out, shows a continuous band of color from violet to red, but it is crossed by innumerable dark absorption lines. These lines, known as Fraunhofer lines, are caused by the absorption of specific wavelengths of light by elements in the Sun's atmosphere.

The Spectrum of Sunlight, When Spread Out by a Spectrograph