Black Body Radiation

• What happens to the quantity of infrared radiation emitted as temperature increases?

  The hotter the object, the more it emits
• What is a perfect black body?

  An object that absorbs all incident radiation
• How much radiation does a perfect black body reflect or transmit?

  None
• Why is a perfect black body the best possible emitter of radiation?

  It absorbs all radiation incident on it
• How does increasing the temperature of an object affect its emissions?

  The wavelength distribution depends on temperature
• What can be said about the rates of emission and absorption for a body at constant temperature?

  The body absorbs and emits at the same rate
• What can be said about the rates of emission and absorption for a body increasing in temperature?

  The body absorbs radiation faster than it emits
• What are two factors that affect the temperature of the Earth?

  • The Earth’s rate of absorption and emission of radiation
  • The amount of reflection of radiation into space