Visualization: Blackbody Spectrum

A visualization and associated activity to explain how Planck’s Law can be used to plot blackbody curves of objects with different temperatures, the relationship between temperature and peak wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum, and the greenhouse effect of Earth’s atmosphere.

Use this tool to help students find answers to:

1. How can Planck’s Law be used to plot blackbody curves of objects at different temperatures?
2. What is the relationship between temperature and peak wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum?
3. Why does the surface temperature of Earth increase due to the greenhouse effect of the Earth’s atmosphere?

About the Tool

Tool Name	Blackbody Spectrum
Discipline	Physics
Topic(s) in Discipline	• Planck’s Law, Wien’s Law • Relationship between Temperature and Peak Wavelength of the Electromagnetic Spectrum • Greenhouse Effect of Earth’s Atmosphere
Climate Topic	• Planetary Climates, Planetary Energy Balance • The Greenhouse Effect
Type of Tool	Visualization
Grade Level	High school, Undergraduate
Location	Global
Language	English
Translation
Developed by	PhET Interactive Simulations, the University of Colorado Boulder
Hosted at	PhET Interactive Simulations, the University of Colorado Boulder
Link	https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/blackbody-spectrum
Access	Online
Computer Skills	Basic

(Image : Blackbody Spectrum, PhET Interactive Simulations, the University of Colorado Boulder)