Suggest how astronomers can determine what elements are present in the stars. Ex

Question

Suggest how astronomers can determine what elements are present in the stars. Explain how fireworks can display different colors. He^1+, Be^3+, and Li^3+ all are one-electron particles. Of these three particles, which would require radiation of die lowest wavelength to excite its electron from the ground state to the second energy level? Which would require energy of the longest wavelength to excite its electron from the ground state to the second energy level? Explain. If the emission lines in a particular series of the hydrogen atom were studied (for example, the lines in the Balmer series), what type of graph would be obtained from a plot of 1/lambda as a function of 1/n^2? Suggest how you could determine an experimental value for the Rydberg constant, R_H.

Explanation / Answer

3.

Each element has different spectral lines because of the energy levels of the electrons in orbit. When a photon hits an electron, the electron absorbs all its energy and excitation happens. The electron moves up to an energy level ( or few). The electron later emits the photon and returns to its ground state. This is accompanied by an emission of photon. That photon will have a specific wavelength.

Each element has its own specific sequence of wavelength and colors that correspond to them. By observing the patterns of lines and the wavelengths astronomers can determine what elements are in the star and in what proportions.

4.

In an exploding firework a number of chemical reactions is happening simultaneously. While adding heat, we provide enough activation energy to make solid chemical compounds packed inside the firework to combust with oxygen in the air and convert themselves into other chemicals and thereby releasing smoke and exhaust gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide etc

Fireworks get their color from metal compounds packed inside. When metals burn in a hot flame, they glow with very intense colors, the same happening in fireworks. Different metal compounds give different colors. Sodium compounds give yellow and orange, , copper and barium salts give green or blue, and calcium or strontium make red.

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