Question:medium

If the radiation emitted by a perfect radiator has maximum intensity at a wavelength of 2900 Å, the intensity of radiation emitted by it is (Stefan-Boltzmann's constant = \(5.67 \times 10^{-8}\) Wm\(^{-2}\)K\(^{-4}\) and Wein's constant = \(2.9 \times 10^{-3}\) mK)

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This is a two-step problem common in thermal radiation. 1. Use Wien's Law (\(\lambda_{max} T = b\)) to find the temperature from the peak wavelength. 2. Use the Stefan-Boltzmann Law (\(I = \sigma T^4\)) to find the total intensity from the temperature. Make sure all units are in the SI system before calculating.
Updated On: Jun 14, 2026
  • \(5.67 \times 10^8\) Wm\(^{-2}\)
  • \(5.67\) Wm\(^{-2}\)
  • 5670 Wm\(^{-2}\)
  • 2.9 Wm\(^{-2}\)
Show Solution

The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

To solve this problem, we need to apply two important principles of thermal radiation: Wien's Displacement Law and Stefan-Boltzmann Law.

Step 1: Calculate Temperature using Wien's Displacement Law

Wien's Displacement Law states that the wavelength (\(\lambda_{\text{max}}\)) at which the emission of a black body spectrum is maximum is inversely proportional to the absolute temperature (T) of the black body:

\[\lambda_{\text{max}} \times T = b\]

where \(b\) is Wien's constant, given as \(2.9 \times 10^{-3} \text{ mK}\).

Given \(\lambda_{\text{max}} = 2900 \, \text{Å} = 2900 \times 10^{-10} \text{ m}\).

Using Wien's Law:

\(T = \frac{b}{\lambda_{\text{max}}}\)

Substitute the values:

\(T = \frac{2.9 \times 10^{-3}}{2900 \times 10^{-10}} \, \text{K}\) \(T = \frac{2.9 \times 10^{-3}}{2.9 \times 10^{-7}} \, \text{K}\) \(T = 10,000 \, \text{K}\)

Step 2: Calculate Intensity using Stefan-Boltzmann Law

Now that we have the temperature, we can use the Stefan-Boltzmann Law, which relates the total energy radiated per unit surface area of a black body in unit time (intensity, \(I\)) to the fourth power of its temperature \(T\):

\(I = \sigma T^4\)

where \(\sigma\) is Stefan-Boltzmann's constant, \(5.67 \times 10^{-8} \, \text{Wm}^{-2}\text{K}^{-4}\).

Substitute the values:

\(I = 5.67 \times 10^{-8} \times (10,000)^4\) \(I = 5.67 \times 10^{-8} \times 10^{16}\) \(I = 5.67 \times 10^{8} \, \text{Wm}^{-2}\)

Conclusion

The intensity of radiation emitted by the perfect radiator is \(5.67 \times 10^{8} \, \text{Wm}^{-2}\). Thus, the correct option is:

\(5.67 \times 10^8\) Wm\(^{-2}\)

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