Scientists designing a remote-sensing probe for a planetary mission observe that a trace atmospheric molecule shows three distinct absorption lines at the following frequencies:
• 6.00×1010Hz
• 4.00×1013Hz
• 7.00×1014Hz
Instrumentation on the probe can be configured with detectors optimized for microwave, infrared, or visible/near-ultraviolet radiation.
(a) Calculate the wavelength associated with each of the three absorption frequencies. Report your answers in meters and in a more convenient SI prefix (e.g., cm, µm, nm) as appropriate.
(b) Rank the three photon energies from largest to smallest. Support your answer with a quantitative comparison.
(c) For each absorption line, state which type of molecular energy change (rotational, vibrational, or electronic) is most consistent with the photon energy you calculated, and justify each choice.
(d) Recommend which detector type(s) (microwave, infrared, visible/near-ultraviolet) the probe should include to observe all three lines efficiently. Provide reasoning that links your recommendation to the results of parts (a)–(c).