2004 AIPMT Thermal Properties of MatterWien's displacement law Easy Question 4 of 6 in Wien's displacement law

If $\lambda_m$ denotes the wavelength at which the radioactive emission from a black body at a temperature T K is maximum, then :-

A $\lambda_m$ is independent of T
B $\lambda_m \propto T$
C $\lambda_m \propto T^{-1}$
D $\lambda_m \propto T^{-4}$

The answer is C.

Solution

Wien's displacement law: $\lambda_m T = b$, where $b = 2.9 \times 10^{-3}$ m K is Wien's constant.
So $\lambda_m = \dfrac{b}{T}$
$\Rightarrow \lambda_m \propto T^{-1}$
As a body gets hotter, the peak of its emission shifts to shorter wavelengths (e.g. red hot to white hot).

Concept Wien's law

Wien's displacement law in past papers

6 questions from this chapter have appeared across 6 exam years.