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What kind of spectrum shows only bright lines at certain wavelengths?

An emission (bright line) spectrum, from a glowing thin gas.

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  1. A continuous spectrum
  2. An absorption spectrum
  3. An emission spectrum ✔

Why: A hot dense object gives a continuous rainbow. Thin glowing gas gives bright emission lines. Thin cooler gas in front of a hot source removes colors, making dark absorption lines.

Huh, didn't know that: A glowing nebula shows an emission spectrum; a normal star shows an absorption spectrum.

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Emission spectra: when a gas only wants to show off its best colors.
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References

Answer: An emission spectrum. A hot dense object gives a continuous rainbow. Thin glowing gas gives bright emission lines. Thin cooler gas in front of a hot source removes colors, making dark absorption lines.

  1. OpenStax Astronomy 2e, 5.3 Spectroscopy in Astronomy openstax.org/books/astronomy-2e/pages/5-3-spectroscopy-in-astronomy
    it consists of light in which only certain discrete wavelengths are present.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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