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

Blackbody-Radiation

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

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