Exam-style question
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What does a continuous spectrum indicate about a star?.
- A.It is a hot, dense object
- B.It is a cool, diffuse object
- C.It has a strong magnetic field
- D.It is composed of multiple elements
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- It is a hot, dense object
Explanation
Why this works
A continuous spectrum suggests that the star emits light across a wide range of wavelengths without interruption. This evidence indicates that the star is likely a hot, dense object, such as a blackbody radiator.
The implication is that such stars emit light uniformly across the spectrum. Therefore, the conclusion is that a continuous spectrum is characteristic of hot, dense stellar bodies.
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