A distant exoplanet emits thermal radiation that peaks in intensity at a frequency of
PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · Thermal Properties of Matter · Thermal Properties of Matter
Problem
A distant exoplanet emits thermal radiation that peaks in intensity at a frequency of νpeak=(3.0±0.2)×1013Hz. Astronomers model the planet as an ideal thermal emitter and wish to infer surface conditions from the observation.
(a) Convert the given peak frequency to its corresponding peak wavelength. Express your result in micrometers and give the appropriate number of significant figures.
(b) Using your result from part (a), calculate the exoplanet’s surface temperature. Clearly outline each step in your calculation.
(c) The observational uncertainty in νpeak is ±0.2×1013Hz. Determine the resulting range (minimum and maximum) of possible surface temperatures. Show how you propagate the uncertainty through your calculation.
(d) State whether the planet’s peak emission lies within the visible or infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, and briefly justify your answer by referring to numerical wavelength or frequency boundaries.