Continuous spectrum
What Continuous spectrum means in Physics A-Level, as defined for AQA, OCR.
Definitions of Continuous spectrum
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Check what you remember
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Reference: OCR
Contains all wavelengths of visible light and appears as an unbroken band of colour, produced by a hot dense source.
Has a short-wavelength cut-off at λ_min = hc/(eV) but no long-wavelength cut-off, extending to long wavelengths.
Topics that use Continuous spectrum
- The physics of diagnostic X-rays(A-level only) (AQA A-Level)
- Electromagnetic radiation from stars (OCR A-Level)
Related terms
- Black-body modelling of stars
- Bremsstrahlung
- Characteristic X-rays
- Control of beam intensity and photon energy
- Discrete energy levels
- Emission line spectrum
- Energy levels
- Estimation of stellar surface temperature
Using Continuous spectrum in the exam
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