Blackbody Spectrum - PhET

Name
Joann Min
Period 5B

INTRO NOTES:
1. Angstroms (), nanometers (nm) and micrometers (or microns, m) are all units for very short
distances like the wavelength of light.
2. One micron is one millionth of a meter while one nanometer is one
meter and one angstrom is
ten-billionth
of a meter.
3. Visible light is in the thousands of angstroms: 1000 =
think of it a 1 m =
1000
nm.

100 nm =

billionth
.1

of a

m or you can

4. Looking at the graph, the bottom axis is measured in

microns
and the visible part of
the spectrum is found between what wavelengths? .4 microns (violet) & .7 microns (red)
5. Temperature is measured in units of K (kelvin) that is a measure of the absolute temperature
of an object. Many application of science require that there are no negative numbers on the
temperature scale so the kelvin (or absolute) scale is used. The kelvin scale is just the Celsius
scale shifted by 273 degrees, so water that boils at 100 C boils at 373 K on the kelvin scale.
Notice the number of Celsius degrees is 273 less than the kelvin value. What is initial
temperature? 0 K =
-273 C.
6. The starburst at the top of the screen represents the color that you would see if you saw a
blackbody heat source that had the temperature shown. They have simplified the spectrum into
three colors, blue, green and red. Which of these colors appears to be the brightest? Green
7. Look at the curved red line on the graph. This line represents the intensity of all of the light
given off by an object at the temperature shown. Remember, to an astronomer light is all
wavelengths not just visible, but also invisible. Is the red line at the same level for each of the
three colors (blue, green & red) listed next to the starburst?
No (curve = peak)
8. Where is infrared located on the graph, left or right of the spectrum?

Right

Would an

infrared sensor be able to detect this source? Explain Yes, because the curve (red line) still has
height after the visible light portion of the spectrum.
9. Where is ultraviolet located on the graph?
detect this source? Explain

Left

Would an ultraviolet sensor be able to

No, because there is only a small portion of the curve with

height to the left of the visible spectrum. (Not able to detect the source.)
10. The source in this simulation is emitting EM radiation light at a wide range of wavelengths.
What is the wavelength with the greatest intensity?

.6

m =

600

nm.

11. Wiens law relates the peak wavelength of a blackbody source to its temperature in the
equation
. Use the wavelength in nm from #10 to
calculate the temperature of the blackbody in the simulation. 4833.33 K

Now it is time to play with the simulation. Lower the temperature of the
source.
12. Describe the change in the color of the source. It became dimmer and the visible color that
was most prominent became red.
13. Describe the change in the shape of the graph.

The curve decreased in height (was essentially

squished downwards).
14. How does the peak wavelength change? The peak of the curve shifted towards the red portion
of the spectrum while also decreasing in height (in relation to the peak previously shown).
15. What is the peak wavelength?

700

nm. Use Wiens law to estimate the temperature of

the source. Show your calculation. (2.90 x 106) / 700 nm = 4142.86 K

How does the calculated temperature compare to the simulation? The temp. calculated was
different by roughly 197 K. (The given temperature was 3945 K.)
Now raise the temperature of the source.
16. Describe the change in the color of the source. The color source shifts to blue (specifically
the lighter blue) portion of the spectrum.
17. Describe the change in the shape of the graph.

The height of the overall graph (especially

near the peak) increases greatly, with much more height in both the infrared and ultraviolet
areas.
18. How does the peak wavelength change? The height of the peak increases drastically.
19. What is the peak wavelength?

500

nm. Use Wiens law to estimate the temperature of

the source. Show your calculation. (2.90 x 106) / 500 = 5800 K

How does the calculated temperature compare to the simulation? The calculated temperature
was off by exactly 35 K.
20. At what temperature would an oven heating element just begin to glow red?

660

21. What does this simulation assume is the average temperature of the earths surface? 300
What would this be in Celsius?

27 C

22. We see the earth by reflected light, but why dont we see the earth glowing except at a few
spots where there is an active volcano. Which of our senses would let us detect the EM
radiation being given off by the earth? Touch because light can technically be felt both by its
heat and its light
23. According to this simulation, what is the color of an operating incandescent light bulb? 3045 K

24. Which spectral primary color is needed the least to produce the light bulb color? Red
25. Is an incandescent light bulb primarily a light source or a heat source? Explain Heat source
because of the low intensity and the peak of the wavelength being primarily in the area of
non-visible light.

Wiens Law Practice

http://astro.unl.edu/naap/hr/hr_background1.html

UV

V B G Y OR

IR
Star 1
Wiens Law

Star 2

Star 3
Star 4

Wavelength

V B G Y O
R

1. Use Wiens Law to determine the temperature of each star. SHOW ONE EXAMPLE
CALCULATION. These curves are for ideal blackbody radiators (ideal stars) and NOT
real stars. Fill in the table.
STAR

Estimated Peak
Wavelength
(nm)

Temperature
(K)

Predicted
Color of Star

350

8286

Blue

499.6

5804

Very Light
Blue

610

4754

Very Light
tan

1000

290

Burnt
orange

(2.90 x 106) / 350 = ~8286 K

2. Which star has the highest temperature according to Wiens Law? Star 1, with an
estimated peak wavelength of 350 nm, has the highest temperature of 8286 K.
3. The hottest star would appear to be what color? Blue
4. By looking at the graph, predict the color of each star and record it in the table above.