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Emission and absorption of infrared radiation, and black bodies

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 2

Overview

How every object emits and absorbs infrared radiation and how the amount rises with temperature, what a perfect black body is and why it is the best emitter, painting a radiator matt black, how the intensity and wavelengths of emitted radiation change as an object gets hotter, and why objects at room temperature do not glow.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Describe how the radiation given out by an object changes as it gets hotter, using a heated metal bar as an example.

Key term

Which objects emit and absorb infrared radiation?

Key term

What is a perfect black body?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Which objects emit and absorb infrared radiation?

    Model answer

    All objects do, whatever their temperature.

  2. 2

    How does the infrared radiation emitted in a given time change as an object becomes hotter?

    Model answer

    It increases, because the hotter the object the more infrared radiation it radiates in a given time.

  3. 3

    Does a block of ice emit any infrared radiation?

    Model answer

    Yes, because every object emits infrared radiation, although a cold object emits less than a hot one.

  4. 4

    What is a perfect black body?

    Model answer

    An object that absorbs all of the radiation that falls on it.

  5. 5

    Why would a perfect black body also be the best possible emitter of radiation?

    Model answer

    Because a good absorber of radiation is also a good emitter.

  6. 6

    A radiator is painted matt black rather than shiny silver. Explain the effect on the radiation it gives out.

    Model answer

    A matt black surface is a better emitter, so it radiates more infrared radiation in a given time.

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