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Chapter 5: Problem 11

Explain why astronomers are interested in blackbody radiation.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Astronomers are interested in blackbody radiation because it helps them to understand and analyze the physical characteristics of celestial objects, such as their temperature and luminosity. It's also key to studying the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation, which is pivotal to cosmology.

Step by step solution

01

Definition of Blackbody Radiation

Blackbody radiation is the theoretical radiation emitted by a perfect absorber (a blackbody), which is defined as an object that can absorb and emit all frequencies. It's characterized only by its temperature, not its shape or material.
02

Relevance of Blackbody Radiation to Astronomy

In Astronomy, many objects, such as stars and planets, approximate blackbody radiators. Their emission spectra thus can be approximated as blackbody radiation spectra. The analysis of these spectra can be used to determine temperatures and luminosities of celestial objects.
03

Examples of Blackbody Radiation in Astronomy

Blackbody radiation plays a key role in observational astronomy. For instance, by studying the blackbody radiation curve of a star, astronomers can estimate the star's surface temperature. Additionally, blackbody radiation is critical for understanding the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation, considered as the afterglow of the Big Bang.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Turn on an electric stove or toaster oven and carefully observe the heating elements as they warm up. Relate your observations to Wien's law and the Stefan-Boltzmann law.

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