6.6.4

Temperature

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Temperature and Black Bodies

All bodies (objects) emit radiation. The temperature of a body (object) is linked to the intensity (rate) and wavelength of the emitted radiation. Black bodies are perfect absorbers and emitters of radiation - they never reflect or transmit radiation.

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Constant temperature

  • A body at constant temperature absorbs radiation at the same rate that it emits radiation.
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Changing temperature

  • An object will always transmit (send) heat from a hotter area to a colder area.
    • Radiators work based on this principle.
  • This means that when an object’s internal temperature is higher than the temperature of the environment around it, the rate of emission will be higher than if the object were in a warmer environment.

Absorption and Emission

The temperature of a body (object) depends on the rate of absorption of radiation and the rate of emission of radiation. The rates of absorption and emission can be affected by:

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External temperature

  • The external temperature that the body is exposed to.
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Surface area

  • The surface area of the body.
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Internal temperature

  • The internal temperature of the body.

Jump to other topics

1Energy

2Electricity

3Particle Model of Matter

4Atoms & Radiation

5Forces

5.1Basics of Motion

5.2Forces

5.3Effects of Forces

5.4Pressure

6Waves

7Magnetism

8Astrophysics

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