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1 (A) Basic Definition of Black Body Radiation

Thermal radiation is electromagnetic radiation emitted from matter as a result of its temperature. A black body is an idealized object that absorbs all incident electromagnetic radiation regardless of frequency or angle of incidence. When heated to thermal equilibrium, a black body emits black body radiation with a continuous spectrum that depends only on the body's temperature. The spectral distribution of black body radiation, known as spectral radiance, is defined as the energy emitted per unit time, frequency, and surface area. Observation shows black body radiation has a well-defined distribution with a pronounced peak that shifts to higher frequencies with increasing temperature.

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155 views2 pages

1 (A) Basic Definition of Black Body Radiation

Thermal radiation is electromagnetic radiation emitted from matter as a result of its temperature. A black body is an idealized object that absorbs all incident electromagnetic radiation regardless of frequency or angle of incidence. When heated to thermal equilibrium, a black body emits black body radiation with a continuous spectrum that depends only on the body's temperature. The spectral distribution of black body radiation, known as spectral radiance, is defined as the energy emitted per unit time, frequency, and surface area. Observation shows black body radiation has a well-defined distribution with a pronounced peak that shifts to higher frequencies with increasing temperature.

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Omkar Nath
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fiziks

Institute for NET/JRF, GATE, IIT‐JAM, M.Sc. Entrance, JEST, TIFR and GRE in Physics 
 
(a) Basic Definition of Black Body Radiation
Thermal Radiation: If Heat is given to any substance, the particle at atomic level can generate
motion known as thermal motion. If any charged particle within the matter has thermal Motion
then they generate electromagnetic radiation known as thermal radiation. All matter with
temperature greater than absolute zero emits thermal radiation.
Consider, for example, heating iron rod to higher and higher temperatures in fire the rod assumes
a dull red color then a bright red color and at very high temperature intense blue- white color.
The intensity of a beam of electromagnetic radiation is the energy it delivers per second per
unit area.
Black Body Radiation: The spectrum of the thermal radiation emitted by a hot body depends
somewhat upon the composition of body .How ever experiments show that there is one class of
hot body that emits thermal spectra of universal character.

A black body is an idealized physical body that absorbs all incident electromagnetic radiation,
regardless of frequency or angle of incidence. A black body in thermal equilibrium (that is, at a
constant temperature) emits electromagnetic radiation called black body radiation. When an
object is heated, it radiates electromagnetic energy as result of thermal agitation of electrons in
its surface.

The spectral distribution of black body radiation is specified by quantity R  R  , T  called

spectral radiancy which is defined so that R  , T  d is equal to the energy emitted per unit

time in the interval  to   d from unit area of surface at absolute equilibrium temperature T .
The Spectral Radiancy also known as density.

Intensity of radiation depends on frequency and absolute temperature ( T ) .


The total intensity I over the entire spectrum is given by I   R  , T d .
0

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Revised Edition 2019 1 
fiziks
Institute for NET/JRF, GATE, IIT‐JAM, M.Sc. Entrance, JEST, TIFR and GRE in Physics 
 
An object in thermal equilibrium with its surrounding radiates as much energy it absorbers. A
black body is perfect absorber as well perfect emitter of radiation.

ρ(v)dv
Observed


Figure 1: Intensity versus frequency at temperature ( T )

Observation of spectral energy density (Radiancy or Intensity) of black body radiation at


different temperature as function of frequency  .

(1) At the equilibrium the radiation emitted has a well defined continuous energy distribution.

(2) To each frequency there corresponds as energy density which depends neither on chemical
composition of object nor on shape, but only temperature of black body.

(3) The curve shows pronounced Maximum at a given frequency, which increase with
temperature, i.e. the peak of the radiation spectrum occurs at a frequency that is proportional to
temperature.

In figure the radiation incident upon the hole from the outside enters the cavity and is reflected
back and forth by the walls of the cavity, eventually being
absorbed on these walls. If the area of the hole is very small
compared to the area of inner surface of the cavity, a negligible
amount of the incident radiation will be reflected back through
the hole. Essentially all the radiation upon the hole is absorbed;
therefore the hole must have the properties of the surface of
blackbody. Most blackbodies used in laboratory experiment
Figure 2: Perfect Black Body
are constructed along these lines.

H.No. 40-D, Ground Floor, Jia Sarai, Near IIT, Hauz Khas, New Delhi-110016
Phone: 011-26865455/+91-9871145498
Website: www.physicsbyfiziks.com | Email: [email protected]
Revised Edition 2019 2 

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