1a) The incandescent bulb produced a continuous spectrum because all wavelengths were observed. Rutherford’s model predicts that the spectrum of hydrogen should be continuous as well.
b) During the demonstration, a continuous spectrum was observed for incandescent light and a line spectrum was observed for hydrogen; therefore, my observations seem to contradict with Rutherford’s model. Rutherford hypothesized that atomic spectra should always be continuous because he believed that electrons continuously emit energy as they are orbiting the nucleus. At the time, Rutherford did not know that electrons and energy levels are quantized, allowing electrons to transition to different energy levels by absorbing or emitting a specific amount of energy. …show more content…
The emission spectra for each element is unique because each element emits different wavelengths, which were observed as different coloured lines with specific amounts of space between them. The emission spectra for various elements are different because each element requires a different amount of energy to overcome the electrostatic forces within the atom and transition to a higher energy level. When electrons return to their original energy level, they release a photon of energy that is equal to the amount of energy that was necessary to make the transition. Because these quantities of energy are unique to each element, different elements will produce different emission …show more content…
The prediction was accurate because each element produced a unique emission spectrum that could be observed by the spectroscope. The emission spectrum is the result of electrons transitioning to higher energy levels when they receive enough energy from photon collision. The electrons will then return to their original energy level, by emitting a photon of energy equal to the energy that was necessary to make the transition. Each element produced a different emission spectrum because elements have different strengths of electrostatic forces. Different elements will require different amounts of energy to overcome the electrostatic forces that attract the protons and electrons within the
b) During the demonstration, a continuous spectrum was observed for incandescent light and a line spectrum was observed for hydrogen; therefore, my observations seem to contradict with Rutherford’s model. Rutherford hypothesized that atomic spectra should always be continuous because he believed that electrons continuously emit energy as they are orbiting the nucleus. At the time, Rutherford did not know that electrons and energy levels are quantized, allowing electrons to transition to different energy levels by absorbing or emitting a specific amount of energy. …show more content…
The emission spectra for each element is unique because each element emits different wavelengths, which were observed as different coloured lines with specific amounts of space between them. The emission spectra for various elements are different because each element requires a different amount of energy to overcome the electrostatic forces within the atom and transition to a higher energy level. When electrons return to their original energy level, they release a photon of energy that is equal to the amount of energy that was necessary to make the transition. Because these quantities of energy are unique to each element, different elements will produce different emission …show more content…
The prediction was accurate because each element produced a unique emission spectrum that could be observed by the spectroscope. The emission spectrum is the result of electrons transitioning to higher energy levels when they receive enough energy from photon collision. The electrons will then return to their original energy level, by emitting a photon of energy equal to the energy that was necessary to make the transition. Each element produced a different emission spectrum because elements have different strengths of electrostatic forces. Different elements will require different amounts of energy to overcome the electrostatic forces that attract the protons and electrons within the