ASTR 111 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Absorption Spectroscopy, Gravitational Redshift, Continuous Spectrum

• School: George Mason University
• Department: Astronomy
• Course: ASTR 111
• Professor: Rebecca Ericson

Document Summary

Atoms - consists of a nucleus made from protons and neutrons, surrounded by a cloud. Protons - particles with a positive charge found in atomic nuclei, built from three quarks. Neutrons - particles without a charge found in atomic nuclei, built from three quarks. Electrons - fundamental particles with negative electric charge; distribution of electrons. Atomic number - number of protons in an atom. Atomic mass number - combined number of protons and neutrons in an atom. Isotopes - forms of an element that have the same number of protons but different. Phase - state determined by way in which atoms or molecules are held together; Molecular dissociation - process by which an atom splits into its component atoms. Ions - atoms with positive or negative charge. Ionization - process of stripping one or more electrons from an atom. Plasma - gas consisting of ions and electrons. Spectroscopy - process of obtaining spectra from astronomical objects.