WAEC - Physics (2000 - No. 46)
Absorption line spectra exhibited by atoms is a result of
change in the kinetic energy of a movimg atom
instability of the nucleons
excitation of an electron in the atom
transition of an electron from a higher to a lower energy level
Paliwanag
Absorption line spectra are produced when electrons in an atom absorb specific wavelengths of light to move from a lower energy level to a higher energy level (excitation). The absorbed energy corresponds to the difference in energy between the two levels, resulting in dark lines in the spectrum at those specific wavelengths.