Continuous spectrum

A continuous spectrum, emitted by a light source such as the Sun, consists of a continuum of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation across the visible spectrum.

  • A continuous spectrum of light is produced by a light source that emits photons over a continuous range of wavelengths.
  • A continuous spectrum of colours is produced when they are displayed in order of their corresponding wavelengths.
  • Sunlight is composed of the continuous spectrum of colours that make up the visible spectrum with red at one end and violet at the other.
  • White light must be dispersed by a prism or a raindrop if its component colours are to be visible to an observer.
  • The spectral colour model displays colours arranged according to wavelength so in the form of a strip with red at one end and violet at the other.
  • The colours produced by the RBG colour model and the CMY colour model are displayed in the form of a colour wheel rather than a strip of colours.