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Astrophysics

Classification by temperature, black-body radiation

  • 4 things to know
  • Paper 3, section B

Overview

Stefan's law and Wien's displacement law, and using them to find a star's radius.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Numbers

What do T and σ mean in Stefan's law, and what does Wien's displacement law state?

Numbers

How is a star's luminosity calculated, and how are two stars compared using Stefan's law?

Numbers

How is Stefan's law rearranged for radius, and what two conditions on the source does the inverse-square law need?

Numbers

What is the value of the constant in Wien's displacement law?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    State Stefan's law in words and give its mathematical expression.

    Model answer

    The total power radiated by a black body is proportional to the fourth power of its absolute temperature: P = σAT⁴.

  2. 2

    In Stefan's law (P = σAT⁴), what does the symbol σ represent?

    Model answer

    σ is the Stefan-Boltzmann constant.

  3. 3

    In Stefan's law (P = σAT⁴), what does T represent and what unit must it be in?

    Model answer

    T is the absolute temperature, which must be in kelvin.

  4. 4

    State Wien's displacement law in words.

    Model answer

    The peak wavelength of emission is inversely proportional to the absolute temperature of the black body.

  5. 5

    Write the mathematical form of Wien's displacement law.

    Model answer

    λₘₐₓ T = constant (or λₘₐₓ ∝ 1/T).

  6. 6

    What is the value of the constant in Wien's displacement law?

    Model answer

    2.9 × 10⁻³ m K.

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AP = 4πr²σT⁴.
BThe surface area of a spherical star is 4πr².
CP₁/P₂ = (r₁²/r₂²) × (T₁⁴/T₂⁴).

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