BRAINCAKEWien's Law
The wavelength at which a black body emits the greatest intensity is called the peak wavelength, λmax. Wien's law links it to the absolute temperature:
λmaxT = 2.898 × 10−3 m K
So λmax is inversely proportional to T. Double the temperature and the peak wavelength halves. This is the shift of the peak to shorter wavelengths seen on black-body curves.
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Key terms in this lesson
- black body
- An idealised object that absorbs all radiation falling on it and emits a continuous spectrum of electromagnetic radiation depending only on its temperature.
More in Space
- Black-Body Radiation
- Stefan-Boltzmann Law
- Luminosity and Intensity
- The Inverse Square Law for Intensity
- Estimating Stellar Radius and Temperature
- The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
- Formation of a Star
- Life Cycle of a Star
All 18 lessons in Space · All Edexcel A-level Physics topics