Question

What happens to the peak wavelength in the blackbody spectrum as the temperature of a star increases?

a. peak wavelength decreases
b. peak wavelength increaes
c. peak wavelength doesn't change.

Answer 1

Option A). As the temperature of a star increases, the peak wavelength in the blackbody spectrum decreases, shifting the emission towards shorter wavelengths.

Step-by-step explanation:

Wien's Law states that the peak wavelength of the blackbody spectrum decreases with increasing star temperature. This is due to the fact that the blackbody's temperature and peak wavelength are inversely correlated. As a result, when temperature rises, more energy is released, and the peak of the released spectra moves toward shorter wavelengths. This frequently causes a change in color, which is visible in things like stars, whose temperatures can range from red to blue-white. The wavelength of radiation emitted by a blackbody is inversely proportional to its temperature, as per Wien's Law. Stated differently, the wavelength of the radiation with the highest intensity decreases with increasing temperature.