Astronomy quiz question: continuous spectrum source

Astronomy 210 Quiz 4, Fall Semester 2008
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

[4.0 points.] A continuous spectrum is caused by:
(A) blackbody radiation passing through diffuse, cool gas atoms.
(B) electrons moving to lower energy orbitals.
(C) hot, agitated electrons and atoms.
(D) the Doppler effect.

Correct answer: (C)

The electrons and atoms in a hot, dense, opaque object (a "blackbody") will emit a continuous spectrum.

Student responses
Section 70158
(A) : 10 students
(B) : 14 students
(C) : 41 students
(D) : 4 students

"Difficulty level": 63%
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.55