Modern Physics I

2.2 Blackbody Radiation

Ch2 Particle Properties of Waves

 2.2 Blackbody Radiation
Radiant Energy that strikes a surface

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Concepts of EMISSION & ADSORPTION
Heated iron poker glows different colours
at different Temp
Radiation – Examples
 2.2 Blackbody Radiation: Light Bulb

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http://slideplayer.com/slide/4348075/
 Blackbody Radiation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXfrncRey-4
 Black-body Radiation

 A black-body:
an object that absorbs all the electromagnetic radiation
that falls on it and thus appears black.

 A black body in thermal equilibrium

(at a constant temperature)
emits electromagnetic radiation called
black-body radiation.

 The radiation has a specific "continuous” spectrum

and intensity that depends only on the temperature
of the body
 2.2 How to mimic an ideal blackbody?

Cavity Radiation
A widely used model of the surface of a
blackbody is a small hole in a cavity with walls
that are opaque to radiation.
(all radiation incident upon the hole is absorbed)

If the cavity walls are heated to a temperature T, the hole will

act as an emitter of thermal radiation. The spectrum will be a
blackbody spectrum.

Cavity radiation – radiation inside the cavity

Classical theory by Rayleigh and Jeans:

the radiation inside cavity exists in the form of
standing waves with nodes at metallic wall surfaces.
http://www.walter-fendt.de/html5/phen/standingwavereflection_en.htm
2.2 Observation – Feature of blackbody radiation

• 任何物質都會放出各種頻率的
輻射線，也就是電磁波。

• 經驗告訴我們當溫度愈高物質
所放出的輻射線愈強，同時所
放出的主要電磁波也愈偏向短
波長的輻射線。

• 放出的輻射線種類與強度只與
其溫度有關而 與所組成的物質
種類無關。

• 宇宙中的恆星如太陽的輻射性
質也與理想的黑體十分接近。
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 Stefan’s Law


Def. radiancy RT   RT   d
0
Stefan’s law(1879): RT   T 4

RT : the total energy emitted by a body at T & frequency 

per unit time per unit area (energy flux) 輻射度或能量通量密度

where   5.67 108W⋅m−2⋅K−4 Stefan-Boltzmann constant

** This law is only applied to blackbody **

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 Wien’s Displacement Law

Wien’s displacement
law (1883):
max  T
where max - frequency at which RT   has its maximum

Wavelength-frequency
  c 
relation for photons maxT  const
Wien’s law
3
 2.89810 m K 

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2.2 Who tried to explain blackbody radiation spectra

Theorem of
equipartition of energy

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Development of laws for fitting Blackbody spectrum
EM Wave in The radiation inside a cavity of absolute Temp
Cavity whose wall are perfect reflectors

 Consists of “Standing EM Waves”

Illustration
have nodes at the walls, which

restricts their possible wavelengths

L: the distance between opposite walls


Feature 𝑳=𝒏× 14

𝟐
Development of laws for fitting Blackbody spectrum
Density of
standing waves
in cavity

Average energy The average per degree of freedom of an entity in

per ideal gas thermal equilibrium at T
molecule in x 𝟏
direction (1-D)
𝒌𝑻
𝟐
k = Boltzmann’s constant = 1.381 x 10-23 J/K

Degree of freedom? A mode of energy expression

How many degree of 2 modes of energy expression:

freedom of 1-D
harmonic oscillator? KE + PE
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諧振子
∵ Each standing wave in a cavity originates
in an oscillating electric charge

∴ Classical average energy

per standing wave

Density of
Known standing waves
in cavity

∴ Total energy
per unit volume
in the cavity
from  to d
Rayleigh-Jeans Formula
What did Rayleigh-Jeans
Formula indicate in Fig 2.8?
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 Plank-Radiation Formula
Who improved Rayleigh-Jeans Formula? 1900, German physics – Max Plank

How? By “lucky guesswork” to come up with a formula that can

explain well blackbody radiation

Planck Radiation Formula

Oscillator energies

Actual average energy

per standing wave

Rayleigh-Jeans Formula 17
Planck’s Postulate & Its Implications
 2.2 Blackbody Radiation: Ex 2.1
Assume that a certain 660-Hz tuning fork音叉 can be considered
as a harmonic oscillator whose vibrational energy is 0.04 J.
Compare the energy quanta of the (A) tuning fork with
those of (B)an atomic oscillator that emits and absorbs orange light
whose frequency is 5.00 x 1014 Hz.

Solution Oscillator energies

For the ∵
tuning fork
∴
− 31
4 × 10 − 29
= 10
0.04
For atomic
oscillator

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