The heating element of an electric stove is glowing. The color of the hot stove element is red, with a blackbody radiation spectrum with a maximum at a wavelength of 1.000 micron. What is the temperature of the stove element?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The temperature of the stove element can be found using Wien's displacement law, which states that the product of the temperature (T) of a blackbody and the wavelength ($\lambda_{max}$) at which its emission intensity is highest is a constant. The law is given by the equation $\lambda_{max} \times T = b$, where $b$ is Wien's displacement constant, approximately equal to $2.898 \times 10^6$ micron-Kelvin. Given $\lambda_{max} = 1.000$ micron, solving for $T$ gives $T = \frac{b}{\lambda_{max}} = \frac{2.898 \times 10^6}{1.000} = 2,898$ K.

The Heating Element of an Electric Stove Is Glowing