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What are the dark lines seen in the absorption spectrum of the sun called?
ARydberg lines
BRutherford lines
CBalmer lines
DFraunhofer lines
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. Fraunhofer lines
1. The sun's absorption spectrum shows dark lines where certain wavelengths have been absorbed by gases in its exterior.
2. Those dark lines are called Fraunhofer lines.
3. The Rydberg constant and Balmer series are related to hydrogen's emission spectrum, not named for these dark absorption lines.
4. Rutherford lines is not a term used for any spectral feature here.
5. So Fraunhofer lines is correct.
_Source: OpenStax Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 22 "The Atom", section 22.1 The Structure of the Atom_
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