ABSORPTION LINES Meaning and
Definition
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Absorption lines refer to dark lines observed in a spectrum, which correspond to specific wavelengths of light being absorbed by a substance. These lines are formed when a light source passes through a medium and encounters atoms or molecules that can absorb certain wavelengths of light. The absorbed energy causes electrons within the atoms or molecules to move to higher energy levels. The dark lines are formed when these excited electrons are in the process of returning to their original energy level, and the released energy is emitted in other directions, rather than along the original path of the light. As a result, the wavelengths of light corresponding to the energy difference between the excited and original energy levels are missing in the observed spectrum, leading to these characteristic dark lines.
Each chemical element or compound has a unique set of absorption lines, creating a distinctive pattern known as its absorption spectrum. These lines can be used to identify the presence and concentration of specific substances in a sample, even when they are not visible to the naked eye. Absorption lines are pivotal in various scientific fields such as astronomy, where they are studied to analyze the composition, temperature, and density of celestial bodies, or in chemical analysis, where they help identify the chemical makeup of a sample through spectroscopy. By carefully studying the position, intensity, and shape of absorption lines, scientists gain valuable insights into the physical and chemical properties of substances, enabling advancements in diverse fields of research.
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Numerous dark lines in the solar spectrum due to absorption by the solar atmosphere, and also by that of the earth; the phenomenon is due to the fact that rays passing from an incandescent body through a cooler medium are absorbed by elements in that medium which would give out the same rays if the medium were itself made incandescent.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for ABSORPTION LINES
- zbsorption lines
- sbsorption lines
- wbsorption lines
- qbsorption lines
- avsorption lines
- ansorption lines
- ahsorption lines
- agsorption lines
- abaorption lines
- abzorption lines
- abxorption lines
- abdorption lines
- abeorption lines
- abworption lines
- absirption lines
- abskrption lines
- abslrption lines
- absprption lines
- abs0rption lines
- abs9rption lines
Etymology of ABSORPTION LINES
The etymology of the word "absorption lines" originates from the Latin word "absorptio", which means "a sucking in or absorbing". The term "absorption" refers to the process of absorbing or taking in substances or energy. In the context of physics and spectroscopy, absorption lines describe the dark lines that appear in a spectrum when specific wavelengths of light are absorbed by a material. The term combines "absorption" with "lines" to indicate the spectral lines formed due to the absorption of specific wavelengths.
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