What does a continuous spectrum look like?

A continuous spectrum is characterized by a smooth and uninterrupted range of colors blending seamlessly into one another. This type of spectrum displays all wavelengths of light within a particular range, without any gaps. When visible light is passed through a prism, it spreads out into all the colors of the rainbow, from red to violet, creating a continuum.

In contrast to the other options, which represent different types of spectra, the continuous spectrum captures the full range of colors produced by a light source, making it distinct. Bright lines on a dark background typically represent an emission spectrum, where specific wavelengths are emitted by a gas or substance. Discrete lines of color correspond to an absorption spectrum, where certain wavelengths are absorbed by a gas, resulting in dark lines superimposed on a continuous spectrum. Black and white patterns do not relate to the characteristics of a spectrum but could refer to different types of imaging. Thus, the merging colors in option B accurately describe the appearance of a continuous spectrum.