Electromagnetic Radiation Going Beyond Questions

Please note: If you need to use the Stefan-Boltzmann Law, be sure to use this version.

  1. The sun's temperature is 6,000K. Calculate the peak wavelength emitted by the sun. What type of EM wave is this? Accounting for all wavelengths, what is the total rate of energy emitted by the sun (assume the sun behaves as a perfect black body)?
  2. By taking actual measurements, we know that Earth's globally averaged surface temperature is 288K. Knowing this temperature, what is the peak wavelength emitted by Earth. What type of EM wave is this? Accounting for all wavelengths of energy emitted by Earth, what is the total rate of energy output from Earth (assume Earth behaves as a perfect black body)?
  3. Using this Black Body Spectrum Generator, enter the temperatures of Earth and the sun and take a look at their radiation curves. What are the similarities and differences between the sun and Earth radiation curves? Look closely - does Earth emit any visible wavelengths? (Does Earth glow?)
  4. You've looked at the characteristics of radiation emanating from Earth and the sun. What about from you? Suppose your surface body temperature averages 90°F. How much radiant energy in W/m2 would be emitted from your body? At what wavelength is this radiant energy emitted?  What kind of wave is this?
  5. Lastly, we know from actual measurements that Earth's surface temperature is 288K. But what would Earth's surface temperature be if we had no atmosphere? You can assume that Earth radiates 240W/m2 in the absence of an atmosphere. (Why do we assume this?) Why is the observed temperature of Earth (with an atmosphere) warmer than what we calculated assuming that there was no atmosphere?  What is this effect called?