The Sun has a temperature of 6000 K and is brightest at a wavelength of about 5000 Å.What is the temperature of a star that is brightest at a wavelength of about 10,000 Å?
A)3000 K
B)8000 K
C)10,000 K
D)12,000 K

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The peak wavelength of a star's spectrum is related to its temperature through Wien's law, which states that peak wavelength is inversely proportional to temperature. Therefore, if the Sun has a peak wavelength of 5000 Å at 6000 K, a star with a peak wavelength of 10,000 Å would have a temperature of 3000K (since 5000 Å is half of 10,000 Å, the temperature would be half of 6000 K). Therefore, the best choice is A) 3000 K.

The Sun Has a Temperature of 6000 K and Is