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A continuous spectrum reveals an object's composition.
1.True
2.False

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The statement that a continuous spectrum reveals an object's composition is false; it is the line and absorption spectra that reveal an object's composition.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that a continuous spectrum reveals an object's composition is false. A continuous spectrum does indeed show a range of light frequencies or wavelengths, as seen when white light is passed through a prism and forms a continuous array of all the colors. This is what happens with hot, dense solids or liquids. However, to reveal an object's composition, scientists look at an element's line spectrum or the absorption spectrum. These spectra present discrete lines of wavelengths unique to each element. For instance, in the case of gases, when electricity is passed through them, they emit light that, when passed through a prism, results in a line spectrum showing only certain frequencies or wavelengths unique to that element. This information is used to identify the composition of stars and other celestial bodies.