Question

If the peak wavelength of a star&#x27;s thermal emission shifts from 500 nanometers to 250 nanometers, by what factor does its surface temperature increase according to Wien’s displacement law?

Accepted Answer

Wien&#x27;s displacement law states that the peak wavelength of a star&#x27;s thermal emission is inversely proportional to its surface temperature, expressed by the equation T = b / lambda, where T is the absolute temperature, lambda is the peak wavelength, and b is Wien&#x27;s displacement constant. Because the temperature and wavelength are inversely related, dividing the wavelength by a specific factor results in the temperature being multiplied by that same factor. In this case, the wavelength shifts from 500 nanometers to 250 nanometers, which is a reduction by a factor of 2. Dividing the original wavelength by 2 requires the temperature to increase by a factor of 2 to maintain the equality of the constant. Therefore, the surface temperature increases by a factor of 2.

If the peak wavelength of a star's thermal emission shifts from 500 nanometers to 250 nanometers, by what factor does its surface temperature increase according to Wien’s displacement law?

Wien's displacement law states that the peak wavelength of a star's thermal emission is inversely proportional to its surface temperature, expressed by the equation T = b / lambda, where T is the absolute temperature, lambda is the....

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If the peak wavelength of a star's thermal emission shifts from 500 nanometers to 250 nanometers, by what factor does its surface temperature increase according to Wien’s displacement law?

Wien's displacement law states that the peak wavelength of a star's thermal emission is inversely proportional to its surface temperature, expressed by the equation T = b / lambda, where T is the absolute temperature, lambda is the....