If looking at the center of the Sun, one sees into the base of the photosphere at approximately 5800 K. If looking into the Sun nearer the edge, one might see as far as a layer above the base with a temperature of perhaps 5500 K. According to the Stefan-Boltzmann relation, what is the flux in the center of the solar disk compared to the flux near the edge?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Stefan-Boltzmann law states that the flux emitted by a black body is proportional to the fourth power of its temperature (F ∝ T^4). Therefore, the flux ratio is (5800/5500)^4 = 1.24.

If Looking at the Center of the Sun, One Sees