The ultraviolet catastrophe is a catastrophe because
A) Wien's law predicts an infinite intensity of radiation at large wavelengths.
B) human vision cannot detect ultraviolet light directly.
C) Wien's law predicts an infinite intensity of radiation at small wavelengths.
D) ultraviolet light will not produce electrons by the photoelectric effect.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The ultraviolet catastrophe refers to the classical physics prediction (based on Rayleigh-Jeans law, not Wien's law as stated, but Wien's law is related to the problem) of an infinite intensity of radiation at small (ultraviolet) wavelengths, which contradicted experimental results and led to the development of quantum mechanics.

The Ultraviolet Catastrophe Is a Catastrophe Because