Neon Sign Light: Continuous Spectrum or Few Colors?

[Yael]

need to hand in an assingment in an hour.
would appreciate help on this :

"Does the light emitted by a neon sign constitute a continuous spectrum or only a few colors? Defend your answer"

thank you

 

[DaveC426913]

And what is you take on the subject? Defend yourself.

P.S. This belongs in the homework section.

 

[Yael]

oops sorry !

well I've replied that the light constitute only a few colours because neon emits strongly in the red - orange region
mercury in ultra violet and so on. each element corresponds to different wavelengths.

though I'm not sure. i guess mainly because I'm not too sure what the question is asking me.

 

[Hootenanny]

oops sorry !

well I've replied that the light constitute only a few colours because neon emits strongly in the red - orange region
mercury in ultra violet and so on. each element corresponds to different wavelengths.

though I'm not sure. i guess mainly because I'm not too sure what the question is asking me.

I think your answer is correct. The fact the neon lights have a very specific colour, as do sodium lights etc. kinda gives it away.

-Hoot

 

[Yael]

oh good thanks :)

another verification if you don't mind
the question asks if the Bohr model contredicts in any way classical physics.
i replied that only the first assumption that the electrons are fixed in circular orbits violates the laws of classical mechanics - of the idea of centripetal acceleration (?)
am i right to say that?
did i miss anything else? :-S

 

[rachmaninoff2]

What's wrong with circular orbits?

(That was a rhetorical question...)

The answer is in classical electrodynamics and radiation. Another possible answer involves a violation of special relativity.

 

[berkeman]

What's wrong with circular orbits?

(That was a rhetorical question...)

The answer is in classical electrodynamics and radiation. Another possible answer involves a violation of special relativity.

Yeah, what would happen if the electron were just spinning around in a classical orbit around the nucleus? Would there be a natural loss of energy for some reason?

 

[topsquark]

Yeah, what would happen if the electron were just spinning around in a classical orbit around the nucleus? Would there be a natural loss of energy for some reason?

Accelerating charges radiate an EM field. So if an electron were in orbit around, say, a proton it would slowly spiral inward as the electon's kinetic energy is lost to the outgoing EM field.

-Dan