Black body Radiation (1 Viewer)

[Logix]

Does a black body emit radiation in quanta, as in discrete enerygy levels and frequencies or over the continuum of frequencies?

 

[Jase]

In discrete values.

 

[Logix]

but how come the black body curve (intensity vs frequency) is a continuous curve over all frequencies?

 

[Xayma]

It will emit all wavelengths in discrete amounts, however these become negligible as wavelength's get very large and very small.

It won't also emit at all times. But if you left it long enough and have sensitive enough equipment you would notice at least one photon of every wavelength.

 

[Logix]

ok thx,

do u know the cause of blackbody radiation? something to do with oscillators or something

 

[Jase]

atomic oscillators, i.e. atoms that vibrate.

Atoms that vibrate get excited and electrons jumps to high energy then falls back down to ground state and releases radiation.

 

[Logix]

r all the atoms of the same element or not? they wouldnt be, would they, coz then there wouldnt be that many frequencies

 

[Jase]

Im not sure what you mean?

 

[Logix]

like each element has its own frequency of vibration. so if the black body or cavity oscillators or atomic oscillators or watever they r called vibrate with so many frequencies, shouldnt they be composed of many different elements?