Exam-style question
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Describe how absorption spectra can be used to identify elements in stars.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- Absorption spectra are produced when light from a star passes through cooler gas in its atmosphere, causing specific wavelengths of light to be absorbed.
- Each element absorbs light at characteristic wavelengths, creating a unique pattern of dark lines in the spectrum, which can be matched to known elements.
Explanation
Why this works
This answer is strong because it clearly explains the process of absorption and how it relates to identifying elements. It tests the student's understanding of the relationship between light absorption and elemental identification in stellar atmospheres.
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