Black-body Radiation & the

Quantum Hypothesis

Max Planck

Physics 100
Chapt 20
 Black-body Radiation

2.9 x 10-3 m
peak = T(Kelvin)
Light intensity

UV IR
 peak vs Temperature

2.9 x 10-3 m
T peak = T(Kelvin)

3100K 2.9 x 10-3 m

(body temp) =9x10 -6
m
3100
infrared light

58000K 2.9 x 10 m-3

visible light
(Suns surface) 5800 0 =0.5x10 -6
m
Room temperature radiation
Photo with an IR camera
IR Cat
IR house
 the UV catastrophe
Theory & experiment disagree wildly

Pre-1900 theory
 Plancks solution

EM energy cannot be radiated or absorbed

in any arbitrary amounts, but only in discrete
quantum amounts.

The energy of a quantum depends on frequency

as

Equantum = h f
h = 6.6 x 10-34 Js
Plancks constant
Other quantum systems
The quantum of the US monetary
system

We dont worry about effects of quantization

Because the pennys value is so small
 Suppose the quantum were a
$1000 bill

A quantum this large would have an

enormous effect on normal transactions
The quantum of the US Income tax
system
US Income tax with a $1 quantum

Number of taxpayers
 US Income tax with a $1000
quantum
Number of taxpayers

All these guys dont

have to pay anything
Quantum effects
are negligible to
these taxpayers
Quantum effects are
huge to these guys
How quanta defeat the UV
catastrophe

Without
the quantum

With the quantum

high frequency, Low frequency,

large quantum, small quantum,
huge effects Negligible effects
 Plancks quantum is small for ordinary-
sized objects but large for atoms etc
ordinary
pendulum Hydrogen atom
f = 1 Hz f 2x1014 Hz

a s
me
s a K E
t e
h ons
ou t c t r
ab e le
the

Equant= hf
=(6.6x10-34Js)x(2x1014Hz)
Equant= hf =6.6x10 Jsx1Hz
-34

i ny =(6.6 x 2) x 10-34+14J
=6.6x10-34J y t
ve r
=1.3 x 10-19J
Typical energies in ordinary life

Typical energy of
a tot on a swing:
Etot = mghmax

===20kgx10m/s
20kgx
20kgx10m/s x1m
22
x
hmax
= 200 kgm2/s2

= 200 J
much, much larger than
Equant=6.6x10-34J
 Typical electron KE in an atom
Energy gained by an
1 electron Volt electron crossing a 1V
voltage difference

Energy = q V
- - -
1eV = 1.6x10-19C x 1V
1V
= 1.6x10-19 Joules
similar
Equant = 1.3 x 10-19J
for f 2x1014 Hz
Classical vs Quantum world
At atomic &
In everyday life, subatomic scales,
quantum effects quantum effects
can be safely are dominant &
ignored must be considered

Laws of nature
This is because developed without
Plancks constant consideration of
is so small quantum effects do
not work for atoms