Question

Absorption features in the Sun's spectrum are caused by

A) The Sun's core not being a true blackbody.
B) The high density and temperature of the Sun's core preventing the emission of light at certain frequencies.
C) The high density and temperature of the Sun's photosphere preventing the emission of light at certain frequencies.
D) The presence of cooler gas in the Sun's photosphere.
E) Fission reactions in the Sun's photosphere.

Answer 1

Absorption features in the Sun's spectrum are caused by cooler gas in the Sun's photosphere absorbing light at specific wavelengths, which results in dark lines known as Fraunhofer lines in the spectrum.

Step-by-step explanation:

The absorption features in the Sun's spectrum are primarily caused by the presence of cooler gas in the Sun's photosphere that absorb light at certain wavelengths, creating dark lines in the solar spectrum. These dark lines are known as Fraunhofer lines, named after the German physicist who studied them.

As sunlight passes through the cooler gas, atoms within this gas absorb specific wavelengths, leading to a signature in the spectrum that helps astronomers determine the Sun's composition. The absorption and emission spectra of the elements match, which means that the atoms can absorb and emit radiation at the same specific wavelengths.