Final answer:
The light spectrum of hydrogen on a distant star is an absorption spectrum, characterized by dark lines against a continuous spectrum. These lines represent the wavelengths absorbed by hydrogen atoms in space, aligning with the Bohr model of the atom, where electrons absorb photons to move to higher energy orbits.
Step-by-step explanation:
The light spectrum of hydrogen on a distant star would typically be described as an absorption spectrum. This is because, as light from the star passes through the interstellar medium, hydrogen atoms in the gas absorb specific wavelengths of light. When the light reaches us and passes through a prism, it displays a continuous spectrum with dark lines where the wavelengths were absorbed. These dark lines correspond to the specific energy levels that hydrogen electrons jump to when they absorb photons of particular wavelengths. The absorption spectrum of hydrogen is the complementary image of its emission spectrum, which would be observed if the hydrogen were excited and emitting light.
The Hydrogen Spectrum:
According to the Bohr model, when a photon with the correct energy encounters a hydrogen atom, it can be absorbed, causing an electron to jump to a higher orbit or energy level. For example, a photon with a wavelength of 656 nanometers is absorbed by hydrogen electrons jumping from the second to the third orbit. This absorption creates distinct dark lines in the observed spectrum of the distant star, typical of an absorption spectrum.