The Mystery of Blackbody Radiation

What is the relationship between temperature and the peak wavelength of blackbody radiation?

a) Shorter than that of the sun

b) Longer than that of the sun

c) Equal to that of the sun

d) Impossible to determine from the given information

Answer

The peak wavelength of Rigel’s blackbody radiation is a) shorter than that of the sun.

Blackbody radiation is a phenomenon where an object emits electromagnetic radiation due to its temperature. The peak wavelength of blackbody radiation is determined by Wien's law, which states that the peak wavelength is inversely proportional to the temperature.

Mathematically, Wien's law can be expressed as:

λ_peak = b/T

Where λ_peak is the peak wavelength, b is Wien's displacement constant, and T is the temperature in Kelvin. Since the temperature of Rigel is higher than that of the sun, its peak wavelength will be shorter.

Substituting the given temperatures, we can compare the two equations to see that the peak wavelength of Rigel’s blackbody radiation is indeed shorter than that of the sun. Therefore, option a is the correct answer.