What is Wien's displacement law?

Wien's displacement law states that the wavelength of the peak radiation emitted by a black body is inversely proportional to its temperature.

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What is the formula for Wien's displacement law that links maximum wavelength (λ\lambda{ }max), and temperature (T)?

λmaxT = 2.9 x 10−3 m K


λ\lambdamax = peak wavelength (m)

T = temperature (K)

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What is Stefan's law?

Stefan's law states that the total power output of a star is proportional to the fourth power of the star's surface temperature and is directly proportional to the surface area.

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What is the formula for Stefan's law that links power (P), surface area (m2), temperature (T), and the Stefan constant (σ\sigma)?

P = σAT4


P = power (W)

σ\sigma = Stefan constant = 5.67 x 10-8 (W m-2 K-4)

A = surface area (m2)

T = temperature (K)

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What is the formula for that links the intensity (I, power output of a star (P) and distance from the star (d)?

I = 4πd2P


I = intensity (W m-2)

P = power (W)

d = distance from the star (m)

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How does Wien's displacement law relate to the color of stars?

Hotter stars have a peak wavelength in the blue or ultraviolet region.

Cooler stars have a peak wavelength in the red or infrared region.

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What does Stefan's law tell us about the relationship between a star's temperature and its total energy output?

Stefan's law tells us that a star's total energy output per unit time (or power) increases rapidly with an increase in temperature, specifically it is proportional to the temperature raised to the fourth power.

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What happens to the peak wavelength of a black body as its temperature increases?

As temperature increases the peak wavelength decreases.

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What happens to the total energy output of a star as its temperature increases?

According to Stefan's law, as the temperature of a star increases, its total energy output increases dramatically, specifically it increases with the fourth power of the temperature.

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