This diagram covers Black Body Spectrum within Black Body Radiation for GCSE Physics. Revise Black Body Radiation in Energy for GCSE Physics with 13 exam-style questions and 5 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 3 of 4 in this topic. Focus on the labels, the relationships between parts, and the explanation that turns the diagram into an exam-ready answer.
Topic position
Section 3 of 4
Practice
13 questions
Recall
5 flashcards
📊 Black Body Spectrum
All objects emit a continuous spectrum of EM radiation. The intensity and peak wavelength depend on TEMPERATURE.
KEY OBSERVATIONS:
- Higher temperature → MORE total radiation emitted (curve gets taller/larger area)
- Higher temperature → SHORTER peak wavelength (curve shifts left towards blue/UV)
- Higher temperature → different visible colour:
| Temperature | Peak Emission | Colour Appearance |
|---|---|---|
| Cold objects | Infrared | Invisible (dark) |
| ~1000°C | Near-infrared/red | Dull red glow |
| ~3000°C | Red/orange | Bright orange/yellow |
| ~6000°C (Sun) | Visible (all colours) | White |
| ~10000°C+ | Blue/UV | Blue-white |