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41 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
absolute zero
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The theoretical lowest possible temperature at which a material contains no extractable heat energy. Zero on the Kelvin temperature scale. (p. 108)
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absorption line
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A dark line in a spectrum. Produced by the absence of photons absorbed by atoms or molecules. (p. 110)
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absorption spectrum (dark-line spectrum)
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A spectrum that contains absorption lines. (p. 110)
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Balmer series
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A series of spectral lines produced by hydrogen in the near-ultraviolet and visible parts of the spectrum. The three longest-wavelength Balmer lines are visible to the human eye. (p. 111)
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blue shift
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A Doppler shift toward shorter wavelengths caused by a velocity of approach. (p. 105)
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bright-line spectrum
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See emission spectrum.
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continuous spectrum
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A spectrum in which there are no absorption or emission lines. (p. 110)
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Coulomb force
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The electrostatic force of repulsion or attraction between charged bodies. (p. 105)
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dark-line spectrum
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See absorption spectrum.
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Doppler effect
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The change in the wavelength of radiation due to relative radial motion of source and observer. (p. 115)
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electron
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Low-mass atomic particle carrying a negative charge. (p. 104)
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emission line
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A bright line in a spectrum caused by the emission of photons from atoms. (p. 110)
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emission spectrum (bright-line spectrum)
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A spectrum containing emission lines. (p. 110)
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energy level
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One of a number of states an electron may occupy in an atom, depending on its binding energy. (p. 106)
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excited atom
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An atom in which an electron has moved from a lower to a higher energy level. (p. 106)
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ground state
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The lowest permitted electron energy level in an atom. (p. 107)
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heat
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Energy stored in a material as agitation among its particles. (p. 107)
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ion
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An atom that has lost or gained one or more electrons. (p. 105)
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ionization
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The process in which atoms lose or gain electrons. (p. 105)
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isotopes
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Atoms that have the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons. (p. 105)
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joule (J)
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A unit of energy equivalent to a force of 1 newton acting over a distance of 1 m. One joule per second equals 1 watt of power. (p. 109)
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Kelvin temperature scale
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A temperature scale using Celsius degrees and based on zero at absolute zero. (p. 107)
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Kirchhoff 's laws
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A set of laws that describe the absorption and emission of light by matter. (p. 110)
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L dwarf
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A main-sequence star cooler than an M star. (p. 114)
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Lyman series
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Spectral lines in the ultraviolet spectrum of hydrogen produced by transitions whose lowest energy level is the ground state. (p. 111)
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molecule
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Two or more atoms bonded together. (p. 105)
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neutron
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An atomic particle with no charge and about the same mass as a proton. (p. 104)
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nucleus (of an atom)
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The central core of an atom containing protons and neutrons. Carries a net positive charge. (p. 104)
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Paschen series
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Spectral lines in the infrared spectrum of hydrogen produced by transitions whose lowest energy level is the third. (p. 111)
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permitted orbit
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One of the energy levels in an atom that an electron may occupy. (p. 106)
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proton
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A positively charged atomic particle contained in the nucleus of an atom. The nucleus of a hydrogen atom. (p. 104)
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quantum mechanics
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The study of the behavior of atoms and atomic particles. (p. 105)
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radial velocity (Vr)
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That component of an object's velocity directed away from or toward Earth. (p. 116)
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redshift
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A Doppler shift toward longer wavelengths caused by a velocity of recession. (p. 115)
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spectral class or type
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A star's position in the temperature classification system O, B, A, F, G, K, M. Based on the appearance of the star's spectrum. (p. 113)
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spectral line
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A line in a spectrum at a specific wavelength produced by the absorption or emission of light by certain atoms. (p. 104)
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spectral sequence
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The arrangement of spectral classes (O, B, A, F, G, K, M) ranging from hot to cool. (p. 113)
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T dwarf
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A very cool, low-mass star or brown dwarf located below the L stars on the main sequence. (p. 114)
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temperature
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A measure of the agitation among the atoms and molecules of a material. The intensity of heat. (p. 107)
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transition
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The movement of an electron from one atomic energy level to another. (p. 111)
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wavelength of maximum intensity
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The wavelength at which a perfect radiator emits the maximum amount of energy. Depends only on the object's temperature. (p. 108)
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