Astronomy
Astronomy
1st Edition
ISBN: 9781938168284
Author: Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. Wolff
Publisher: OpenStax
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Chapter 5, Problem 38E

An idealized radiating object does not reflect or scatter any radiation but instead absorbs all of the electromagnetic energy that falls on it. Can you explain why astronomers call such an object a blackbody? Keep in mind that even stars, which shine brightly in a variety of colors, are considered blackbodies. Explain why.

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Chapter 5 Solutions

Astronomy

Ch. 5 - What are the differences between light waves and...Ch. 5 - Which type of wave has a longer wavelength: AM...Ch. 5 - Explain why astronomers long ago believed that...Ch. 5 - Explain what the ionosphere is and how it...Ch. 5 - Which is more dangerous to living things, gamma...Ch. 5 - Explain why we have to observe stars and other...Ch. 5 - Explain why hotter objects tend to radiate more...Ch. 5 - Explain how we can deduce the temperature of a...Ch. 5 - Explain what dispersion is and how astronomers use...Ch. 5 - Explain why glass prisms disperse light.Ch. 5 - Explain what Joseph Fraunhofer discovered about...Ch. 5 - Explain how we use spectral absorption and...Ch. 5 - Explain the results of Rutherford’s gold foil...Ch. 5 - Is it possible for two different atoms of carbon...Ch. 5 - What are the three isotopes of hydrogen, and how...Ch. 5 - Explain how electrons use light energy to move...Ch. 5 - Explain why astronomers use the term “blueshifted”...Ch. 5 - If spectral line wavelengths are changing for...Ch. 5 - Make a list of some of the many practical...Ch. 5 - With what type of electromagnetic radiation would...Ch. 5 - Why is it dangerous to be exposed to X-rays but...Ch. 5 - Go outside on a clear night, wait 15 minutes for...Ch. 5 - Water faucets are often labeled with a red dot for...Ch. 5 - Suppose you are standing at the exact center of a...Ch. 5 - How could you measure Earth’s orbital speed by...Ch. 5 - Astronomers want to make maps of the sky showing...Ch. 5 - The greenhouse effect can be explained easily if...Ch. 5 - An idealized radiating object does not reflect or...Ch. 5 - Why are ionized gases typically only found in very...Ch. 5 - Explain why each element has a unique spectrum of...Ch. 5 - What is the wavelength of the carrier wave of a...Ch. 5 - What is the frequency of a red laser beam, with a...Ch. 5 - You go to a dance club to forget how hard your...Ch. 5 - What is the energy of the photon with the...Ch. 5 - If the emitted infrared radiation from Pluto, has...Ch. 5 - What is the temperature of a star whose maximum...

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