AQA A-Level Physics 7408
Measurements and Their Errors
Particles and Radiation
Waves
Mechanics and Materials
Electricity
Further Mechanics and Thermal Physics
Fields and Their Consequences
Nuclear Physics
AstrophysicsOptional topic
Medical PhysicsOptional topic
Engineering PhysicsOptional topic
Turning Points in PhysicsOptional topic
ElectronicsOptional topic
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.
How is a star's luminosity calculated, and how are two stars compared using Stefan's law?
How is Stefan's law rearranged for radius, and what two conditions on the source does the inverse-square law need?
What is the value of the constant in Wien's displacement law?
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 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
In Stefan's law (P = σAT⁴), what does the symbol σ represent?
Model answer
σ is the Stefan-Boltzmann constant.
- 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
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
Write the mathematical form of Wien's displacement law.
Model answer
λₘₐₓ T = constant (or λₘₐₓ ∝ 1/T).
- 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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