In order to further understand the relationship between temperature, radiation, and energy output we conducted a black body experiment in order to experimentally confirm the Stefan-Boltzmann constant. A black body is an object which allows all entering radiation, without reflection, to enter the object, absorbs all of the radiation, and subsequently releases radiation based on its own constant temperature. Another key factor is this absorption happens at all various wavelengths and all angles [1]. The term “black body” or sometimes referred to as a “black surface” was coined because it is a body which visually allows all light sources it encounters to enter, however it prevents them from leaving again, giving the object a “black” …show more content…
After this realization Kirchhoff proceeded to show the radiation of heated bodies depends solely on temperature and not the emitting substances chemical makeup [3]. These experiments aided in forming an idea of spectral analysis, however it wasn’t until years later when Kirchhoff’s work was expanded upon. The work done by Josef Stefan, which was later derived theoretically by Ludwig Boltzmann, was able to give us the exact correlation between the temperature of an object and the amount of radiation which was emitted. This law was later explored by both Wilhelm Wien and Max Planck to expand upon the work started by Kirchhoff many years earlier [3][4]. The Stefan-Boltzman law, albeit having some importance on earth, is a major factor in the work of astrophysicist in measuring the energy output and temperature of many stars which are too far away to measure by ordinary means. Theory of the Stefan-Boltzmann Law
Black body radiation is emitted as a broad spectrum, where the shape of the curve is modeled based off Planck’s law of black body radiation. Stefan’s Law shows the relationship between the absolute temperature (T) and the radiancy (RT¬) with the Stefan-Boltzmann constant being σ = 5.67 × 10−8 Wm−2K−4
R_T = σT^4 ( 1