The core of a planetary nebula has an initial surface temperature of 100,000 K. If it radiates like a blackbody, in what electromagnetic region will the peak of its radiation spectrum lie?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The peak of radiation emitted by a blackbody is given by Wien's Law, which states that λpeak = 2.898 × 10⁶ / T, where λpeak is the wavelength of the peak emission and T is the temperature in Kelvin. Substituting T = 100,000 K gives λpeak ≈ 29 nm, which corresponds to the ultraviolet region. Therefore, the best choice is C, ultraviolet.

The Core of a Planetary Nebula Has an Initial Surface