Lecture 9
Lecture 9
Spectra
Thermal Radiation
Wiens Law
Stefan-Boltzmann Law
Kirchoffs Laws
Emission and Absorption
Spectra & Composition
Spectrum
Intensity
Wavelength
Spectrum of an astrophysical object.
Production of light
Why do stars shine?
Theyre hot!
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Thermal Radiation
Nearly all large, dense objects emit thermal
radiation, including stars, planets, and you.
An objects thermal radiation spectrum depends
on only one property: its temperature.
Intensity
Spectrum:
Wavelength
Wiens Law
pT = 2.9 x 106 nm K
p is the wavelength of maximum emission
(in nanometers nano = 10-9)
T is temperature (in degrees Kelvin)
As T increases, wavelength decreases.
So hot object blue; cool objects red.
2 Examples:
Human body
T = 310 K
2.9 106 nm K
= 10, 000 nm
p =
310 K
The Sun
T = 5,800 K
2.9 106 nm K
= 500 nm
p =
5800 K
Stefan-Boltzmann Law
2
L = 4R T
surface area
of a sphere
L R2 T 4
Absolute brightness
called Luminosity (L)
Physical power emitted by object
Energy radiated per unit time
L
apparent
b=
brightness
4d2
How bright we perceive a star to be
depends on both its intrinsic luminosity and its distance from us.
2007 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley
apparent
brightness
L
b=
4d2
Intensity
Wavelength
Spectra of astrophysical objects are usually combinations of
these three basic types.
2007 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley
Continuous Spectrum
Kirchoffs Laws
Hot, dense objects emit a
continuous spectrum
e.g., a star
Kirchoffs Laws
Hot, dense objects emit a
continuous spectrum
e.g., a star
Kirchoffs Laws
Hot, dense objects emit a
continuous spectrum
e.g., a star
Atomic Terminology
Atomic Number = # of protons in nucleus
Atomic Mass Number = # of protons + neutrons
Atomic Terminology
Isotope: same # of protons but different # of
neutrons (4He, 3He)
Chemical Fingerprints
Each type of atom
has a unique set of
energy levels.
Each transition
corresponds to a
unique photon
energy, frequency,
and wavelength.
Energy levels of hydrogen
Chemical Fingerprints
Downward
transitions produce
a unique pattern of
emission lines.
Chemical Fingerprints
Chemical Fingerprints
05_Compmysterygas
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Chemical Fingerprints
All the dark regions are absorption lines due to all the elements
in the suns atmosphere. The strengths of the lines tell us about the
suns composition and other physical properties.
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Solar composition
73% Hydrogen
25% Helium
2% everything else
metals
Reflected Sunlight:
Continuous spectrum of
visible light is like the
Suns except that some of
the blue light has been
absorbedobject must
look red
2007 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley
Thermal Radiation:
Infrared spectrum peaks
at a wavelength
corresponding to a
temperature of 225 K
Reflected Sunlight:
Mars is red
Infrared peak
wavelength tells us
T = 225 K