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PH2113 Homework

The document outlines a series of problems related to introductory quantum physics, focusing on concepts such as blackbody radiation, Stefan's law, and Wien's displacement law. It includes calculations for the Sun's mass loss due to radiation, the maximum wavelength of emission for various temperatures, and the average value of a function. Additionally, it discusses the relationships between spectral radiancy, energy density, and the implications of approximations in these contexts.

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Aditya Singh
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17 views2 pages

PH2113 Homework

The document outlines a series of problems related to introductory quantum physics, focusing on concepts such as blackbody radiation, Stefan's law, and Wien's displacement law. It includes calculations for the Sun's mass loss due to radiation, the maximum wavelength of emission for various temperatures, and the average value of a function. Additionally, it discusses the relationships between spectral radiancy, energy density, and the implications of approximations in these contexts.

Uploaded by

Aditya Singh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PH2113: Introductory Quantum Physics

1. At what wavelength does a cavity at 6000 K radiate most per unit wave-
length?
2. (a) Assuming the surface temperature of the Sun to be 5700 K, use Stefan’s
law, to determine the rest mass lost per second to radiation by the Sun.
Take the Sun’s diameter to be 1.4 × 109 m. (b) What fraction of the Sun’s
rest mass is lost each year from electromagnetic radiation? Take the Sun’s
rest mass to be 2.0 × 1030 kg.
3. At a given temperature, λmax = 6500 Å for a blackbody cavity. What will
λmax be if the temperature of the cavity walls is increased so that the rate
of emission of spectral radiation is doubled?
4. At what wavelength does the human body emit its maximum temperature
radiation? List assumptions you make in arriving at an answer.

5. We obtain νmax in the blackbody spectrum by setting dρ(ν)


dν = 0 and λmax
by setting dρ(λ)
dλ = 0. Why is it not possible to get from λmax T = const
to νmax = const × T simply by using λmax = c/νmax ? That is, why is it
wrong to assume that νmax λmax = c, where c is the speed of light?
6. Consider the function
1
f (x) = (10 − x)2 , 0 ≤ x ≤ 10,
10
and f (x) = 0 otherwise. (a) From
R∞
xf (x) dx
x̄ = R−∞
∞
−∞
f (x) dx

find the average value of x. (b) Suppose the variable x were discrete
rather than continuous. Assume ∆x = 1 so that x takes only integer
values 0, 1, 2, . . . , 10. Compute x̄ and compare to the result of part (a).
(c) Compute x̄ for ∆x = 5, i.e. x = 0, 5, 10. Compare to the result of part
(a). (d) Draw analogies between the results obtained in this problem and
the discussion in the class.
R∞
7. Using the relations P (ϵ) = e−ϵ/kT /kT and 0 P (ϵ) dϵ = 1, show that
ϵ̄ = kT .

1
8. Use the relation RT (ν) dν = (c/4) ρT (ν) dν between spectral radiancy and
energy density, together with Planck’s radiation law, to derive Stefan’s
law. That is, show that

2πh ∞ ν3
Z
RT = 2 hν/kT
dν = σT 4 ,
c 0 e −1
2π 5 k4
where σ = 15c2 h3 .

9. Derive the Wien displacement law, λmax T = 0.2014 hc/k, by solving the
equation dρ(λ)
dλ = 0. (Hint: set hc/(λkT ) = x and show that the equation
quoted leads to e−x + x/5 = 1. Then show that x = 4.965 is the solution.)

10. (a) Show that about 25% of the radiant energy in a cavity is contained
within wavelengths zero and λmax , i.e.,
R λmax
0
ρT (λ) dλ 1
R∞ ≈ .
0
ρT (λ) dλ 4

(Hint: hc/(λmax kT ) = 4.965; hence Wien’s approximation is fairly ac-


curate in evaluating the integral in the numerator above.) (b) By what
percent does Wien’s approximation used over the entire wavelength range
overestimate or underestimate the integrated energy density?

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