Question:medium

Continuous emission spectrum is produced by

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Hot solids produce continuous spectra; hot gases produce line spectra.
Updated On: Jun 16, 2026
  • incandescent electric lamp
  • mercury vapour lamp
  • sodium vapour lamp
  • polyatomic substances
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

A continuous emission spectrum is a broad range of frequencies emitted without any gaps. Such spectra are typically produced by objects in which atoms are densely packed and in thermal motion, such as in solids and dense gases.

Let’s examine each option to determine which produces a continuous emission spectrum:

  • Incandescent Electric Lamp: This type of lamp produces light by heating a filament. The heated filament emits light across a broad range of frequencies, resulting in a continuous spectrum. Therefore, an incandescent lamp is known for producing a continuous emission spectrum.
  • Mercury Vapour Lamp: Mercury vapour lamps produce line spectra rather than continuous spectra. This is because they emit light at specific wavelengths corresponding to the energy transitions of mercury atoms.
  • Sodium Vapour Lamp: Similar to mercury vapour lamps, sodium vapour lamps also produce line spectra. They emit light at certain characteristic wavelengths associated with sodium transitions.
  • Polyatomic Substances: The spectrum produced by these substances can vary widely. They do not specifically produce a continuous spectrum under regular conditions, typically requiring high energy or specific setups to achieve a broad spectrum.

The answer to the question about which produces a continuous emission spectrum is clearly the incandescent electric lamp.

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