absorption spectrum

Fraunhofer lines

Fraunhofer lines Absorption lines and bands in the spectrum of the Sun that were first labelled by J. vonFraunhofer in 1814. In decreasing wavelength from the red, they include A (759 nm), B (687 nm), C (656 nm), D (589 nm), E (527 nm), F (486 nm), G (431 nm), H (397 nm), and K (393 nm); Fraunhofer observed many other lines, labelling several weaker features a, b, etc. The A and B bands are due to absorption by oxygen molecules in the Earth's atmosphere, and the a band is due to absorption by terrestrial water vapour, but the remainder result from absorption in the Sun's photosphere. Most prominent are the D lines of sodium, the H and K lines of calcium, and the G band caused by neutral iron and the CH molecule, all of which are features of stars of spectral types F, G, and K.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"Fraunhofer lines." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Fraunhofer lines." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-Fraunhoferlines.html

"Fraunhofer lines." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-Fraunhoferlines.html

Learn more about citation styles

absorption spectrum

absorption spectrum A spectrum that consists primarily of dark absorption lines, created when light from a hot source passes through cooler material. The spectra of normal, cool stars such as the Sun fall into this category.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"absorption spectrum." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"absorption spectrum." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-absorptionspectrum.html

"absorption spectrum." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-absorptionspectrum.html

Learn more about citation styles

selective absorption

selective absorption Any form of absorption which affects some wavelengths more than others. Examples are atmospheric extinction and interstellar absorption, both of which produce a reddening of starlight.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"selective absorption." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"selective absorption." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-selectiveabsorption.html

"selective absorption." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-selectiveabsorption.html

Learn more about citation styles

absorption spectrum

absorption spectrum A graph that shows the percentage of each wavelength of light absorbed by a pigment (e.g. chlorophyll, which absorbs mainly in the red and blue parts of the spectrum).

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

MICHAEL ALLABY. "absorption spectrum." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "absorption spectrum." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-absorptionspectrum.html

MICHAEL ALLABY. "absorption spectrum." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-absorptionspectrum.html

Learn more about citation styles

absorption spectrum

absorption spectrum A graph that shows the percentage of each wavelength of light absorbed by a pigment (e.g. chlorophyll, which absorbs mainly in the red and blue parts of the spectrum).

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

MICHAEL ALLABY. "absorption spectrum." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "absorption spectrum." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-absorptionspectrum.html

MICHAEL ALLABY. "absorption spectrum." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-absorptionspectrum.html

Learn more about citation styles

absorption spectrum

absorption spectrum see spectrum .

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"absorption spectrum." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"absorption spectrum." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-absorpsp.html

"absorption spectrum." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-absorpsp.html

Learn more about citation styles

Fraunhofer lines

Fraunhofer lines : see sun .

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"Fraunhofer lines." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Fraunhofer lines." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-Fraunhof.html

"Fraunhofer lines." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-Fraunhof.html

Learn more about citation styles

absorption spectrum

absorption spectrum See spectrum.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"absorption spectrum." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"absorption spectrum." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-absorptionspectrum.html

"absorption spectrum." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-absorptionspectrum.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

On the absorption spectrum of noble gases at the arc spectrum limit.
Magazine article from: Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology; 11/1/2005
Study of blood fat concentration based on serum ultraviolet absorption...
Magazine article from: Journal of Biomedical Science and Engineering (JBiSE); 10/1/2009
Study of blood fat concentration based on serum ultraviolet absorption...
Magazine article from: Journal of Biomedical Science and Engineering (JBiSE); 10/1/2009
absorption spectrum images
absorption spectrum. Other (Public Domain)