Adrian Down
October 03, 2005
V ω2
D(ω) =
π 2 c3
The average occupancy of each EM mode is given by the Plank distribu-
tion,
1
hni = ~ω
e τ −1
Putting these two expressions together, the energy distribution is
V ~ω 3
U (ω) = ~ω
2 3
π c e −1τ
π2V τ 4
UT = 3 3
∝ T4
15~ c
1
1.2 Application: entropy of a black body
0 at constant V
τ dσ = dU + pdV
*
1
dσ = dUT
τ
1 4π 2 V τ 3
=
τ 15~3 c3
4 π2V 3
= τ
45 ~3 c3
1 n(ω)~ω
cdω
4 | {z
V }
energy
unit V
The integral over U (ω) is the same from the calculation of total energy above,
so the total emitted power is
2
π2τ 4
σsb T 4 =
60~3 c3
π 2 kb4
where σsb =
60~3 c3
W
≈ 5.67 · 10−8
m2 k4
3
Definition (black body). A black body is one that absorbs all EM radiation
which is incident upon it. A black body is characterized by
α(ω) = 1, ∀ω
Definition (grey body). A body for which a(ω) < 1, but is constant over
all frequencies, is called a grey body
Definition (colored body). If a(ω) depends on ω, the body is called a colored
body.
Definition (perfect mirror). If a(ω) = 0 for all ω, the body is called a perfect
mirror
a(ω) = e(ω)
2.5 Examples
2.5.1 Shiny tea pots
A polished tea pot will keep tea hot much longer. A shiny pot is nearly a
perfect mirror, and since it has a very low absorptivity, it has a very low
emissivity.
The heat losses due to conduction losses will be proportional to Ttp −Troom .
4 4
Radiation losses will be proportional to Ttp −Troom . Thus the radiation losses
completely dominate when Ttp is much greater than Troom .
4
2.5.2 Cold, cloudless nights
It often feels colder on clear nights. Without clouds, EM radiation emitted
from the surface of the earth disperses relatively unimpeded. Water vapor
present in clouds absorbs strongly in the infrared, and the peak of the plank
distribution is in the infrared, so clouds are very effective at absorbing heat
energy radiated from earth. Because clouds are good absorbers at infrared
frequencies, they are good emitters at these same frequencies. Approximately
half of the EM radiation absorbed by the cloud will be emitted back down
towards earth, thus keeping the surface of the earth warmer.