Earthguide Online Classroom

Blackbody radiation curve

Diagram Source: Wikimedia Commons

Questions for thought

  1. As the temperature of a body increases, what happens to the total radiant energy output?
  2. As the temperature of a body increases, what happens to the peak wavelength?
  3. Is the material that produces a blue flame hotter or colder than one that produces an orange flame?
  4. is the surface of a blue star hotter or colder than that of a yellow one?

Related resources

  • Blackbody Curves and Filters Explorer
    Interactive diagram - See how blackbody radiation varies a function of temperature.
    Source
  • Nebraska Astronomy Applet Project
    "high quality simulators dealing [sic] important astronomical and astrophysical phenomena. ... NAAP materials are designed to be sufficiently flexible that they can be used in a wide variety of educational settings: computerized laboratories, homework assignments, or classroom demonstrations. Each Animation is accompanied by background material necessary to understand the simulator making the NAAP site completely self-contained." Look under NAAP Modules.
    Astronomy Education at the University of Nebraska
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