What would the spectrum of an emission nebula contain?
A) the blackbody spectrum emitted by the hot stars that heat the gas
B) the blackbody spectrum emitted by dust grains in the nebula
C) bright bands at wavelengths emitted from transitions of hydrogen
D) dark bands at wavelengths emitted from transitions of hydrogen

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Emission nebulae are clouds of ionized gas that emit light of various colors, depending on the chemical composition of the gas. The most common element in these nebulae is hydrogen, which, when excited by the ultraviolet light from nearby hot stars, emits light at specific wavelengths as the electrons transition between energy levels. This results in bright emission lines in the spectrum, particularly the Balmer series of hydrogen, rather than a continuous blackbody spectrum or dark absorption lines.

What Would the Spectrum of an Emission Nebula Contain