Question

Some electrons in atoms vibrate at a characteristic frequency that produces white light. What is the characteristic frequency of electrons in atoms that produces white light?

Answer 1

White light does not have a single characteristic frequency; it encompasses the entire spectrum of visible light wavelengths that range from approximately 390 to 700 nanometers, produced by electronic transitions in atoms and molecules.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question is concerned with the characteristic frequency of electrons in atoms that produces white light. White light consists of a mixture of all the frequencies of the visible spectrum. Visible light is largely produced by electronic transitions in atoms and molecules. The 'frequency' of light typically refers to the energy level transitions within an atom, where an electron jumps from a higher to a lower energy level, emitting a photon in the process. White light doesn't have a single characteristic frequency but is a combination of all visible frequencies. The emission of white light involves multiple electronic transitions to produce a broad range of wavelengths from about 390 to 700 nanometers. When atoms or molecules emit this light, we observe it as white because it contains all visible wavelengths.