What is the Difference Between Continuous and Discrete Spectrum?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between continuous and discrete spectra lies in the distribution of energies or frequencies in the spectra.
- Continuous Spectrum: In a continuous spectrum, the light is composed of a wide, continuous range of colors (energies) with no considerable gap between each value. Continuous spectra are often observed in dense gases or solid objects, which radiate their heat away through light emission over a broad range of wavelengths. Examples of continuous spectra include the light emitted by stars, incandescent light bulbs, and electric cooking stove burners.
- Discrete Spectrum: A discrete spectrum consists of only specific, distinct energies or frequencies, with no intermediate values. There are two types of discrete spectra: emission (bright line spectra) and absorption (dark line spectra). Discrete spectra are the result of the physics of atoms, where electron clouds surrounding the nuclei of atoms can have only very specific energies dictated by quantum mechanics. Each element on the periodic table has its own set of discrete energy levels.
In summary, a continuous spectrum is characterized by a smooth and continuous distribution of energies or frequencies, while a discrete spectrum consists of distinct, sharply-defined lines or values with no intermediate energies or frequencies.
Comparative Table: Continuous vs Discrete Spectrum
The main difference between continuous and discrete spectra lies in the presence or absence of gaps between the values of a given physical quantity. Here is a table comparing the two types of spectra:
| Continuous Spectrum | Discrete Spectrum |
|---|---|
| A continuous series with no considerable gaps between each value. | Separate lines or values with positive gaps between each. |
| Commonly used to represent energy or wavelength. | Can be used to represent energy levels in an atom or molecule. |
| Examples include the spectrum of light emitted by excited atoms or molecules. | Examples include absorption or emission spectra. |
| Most often displayed using line graphs or histograms. | Less often displayed using line graphs or histograms. |
In summary, a continuous spectrum represents a continuous series of values without gaps, while a discrete spectrum consists of separate lines or values with gaps between them. Continuous spectra are commonly used to represent energy or wavelength, while discrete spectra are often used to represent energy levels in atomic or molecular systems.
- Continuous Spectrum vs Line Spectrum
- Emission vs Continuous Spectrum
- a Continuous Spectrum vs a Bright Line Spectrum
- Discrete vs Continuous Data
- Discrete vs Continuous Distributions
- Discrete vs Continuous Variables
- Bandwidth vs Spectrum
- Discrete Function vs Continuous Function
- Discrete vs Continuous Probability Distributions
- Continuous vs Discontinuous Variation
- Prism Spectra vs Grating Spectra
- Absorption Spectrum vs Emission Spectrum
- Action Spectrum vs Absorption Spectrum
- Continuous vs Continual
- Discrete vs Discreet
- Electromagnetic Radiation vs Electromagnetic Spectrum
- Emission vs Absorption Spectra
- Wavelength vs Frequency
- Bandwidth vs Frequency