Help with planetary temp. equation

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the temperature of a hypothetical planet orbiting the CHARA star at a distance of 1 AU. Participants explore the application of the Stefan-Boltzmann law and various equations to determine the planet's equilibrium temperature, with a focus on theoretical and mathematical reasoning.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents an equation for calculating the temperature based on the luminosity of the CHARA star and expresses confusion over obtaining an excessively high temperature of 476510.66 K.
  • Another participant claims to have calculated a temperature of 117.5 K, suggesting that the first participant may not be squaring the radius correctly.
  • A different participant discusses using natural units and provides a calculation that leads to an equilibrium temperature of approximately 283 K, while also mentioning the effects of Earth's atmosphere on temperature.
  • There is a repeated assertion that the temperature should be around 280 K, with some participants expressing confidence in this value based on their calculations.
  • One participant humorously comments on the lack of an atmosphere on the hypothetical planet and discusses the idea of artificially creating an atmosphere that balances its albedo and greenhouse effects.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the correct temperature calculation, with some arriving at around 117 K and others at approximately 280 K. The discussion remains unresolved regarding which calculation is accurate.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference various assumptions and conditions in their calculations, including the effects of atmospheric properties and the nature of the planet as a dark sphere. There are unresolved mathematical steps and dependencies on definitions that influence the outcomes.

Mean-Hippy
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I an trying to calculate the temperature of a hypotethical planet orbiting the CHARA star at a distance of 1 AU. Now I know that the luminosity of Sol is 4x10^26 watts and that Chara's is about 20% more so 4.8x10^26 watts.

I found the following equation to calculate it:


( L )
Temp ( in K ) = (--------------) 1/4
(16*pi*S*R^2 )

L = Luminosity of star
S = Stefan-Boltzmann constant which should be 5.67x10^-8
R = radius of planetary orbit in meters where 1 AU is .94x10^12, squared...

Heres where I foud this equation:
http://spiff.rit.edu/classes/phys230/lectures/life/life.html

I end up with stupid 476510.66 K ... this is supposed to be a planet, not a quasar ! Where am I wrong ?


Thanks for help !
 
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I get 117.5 degrees K. Perhaps you're not squaring the radius.
 
Last edited:
Mean-Hippy said:
I an trying to calculate the temperature of a hypotethical planet orbiting the CHARA star at a distance of 1 AU. Now I know that the luminosity of Sol is 4x10^26 watts and that Chara's is about 20% more so 4.8x10^26 watts.
...!

you are less apt to make errors if you use natural units

the solar const is 5.7E-117 so for that star (20% briter) the power per unit area at 1 AU is 6.84E-117

you are calculating equilibrium temp for a dark ball, so you have to divide by 4 giving
1.7E-117

the ball will heat up until it radiates away at that rate

by stef-boltz law you must multiply by 60/pi2, which is same as multiply by 6, and then take fourth root.
multiply by 6
E-116

take fourth root
E-29

Beautiful example, that temperature is about 49 degrees Fahrenheit!

If you would like it in Kelvin, it is about 283 Kelvin.

this is close to the global avg. surface temp on earth. the black ball temp at Earth's distance from sun is somewhat lower but the greenhouse effect makes up the difference

saltydog I do not see how you got 117 Kelvin
I am pretty sure the rite answer is around 280 Kelvin
I could do it more precisely but it would still come out around 283 K like what I got

[edit, to clarify in response to comment by Chronos: Earth atmosphere has two effects, one cooling and one warming. they nearly cancel but the greenhouse warming effect slightly wins out over the cooling albedo effect of reflection off the tops of clouds. so Earth is a little warmer than the dark sphere equilibrium temp. BUT if there were a lot more clouds to reflect light away, ceteris paribus, the cooling effect could win out.]
 
Last edited:
marcus said:
saltydog I do not see how you got 117 Kelvin
I am pretty sure the rite answer is around 280 Kelvin
I could do it more precisely but it would still come out around 283 K like what I got

I just plugged-in the values that mean hippy reported, into the equation. I know, kind of cold (liquid oxygen?).

<br /> {\root{4}\of{\frac{4.8*{{10}^{26}}}{16\multsp \pi \multsp 5.67*\multsp {{10}^{-8}}\multsp {{(0.94 * \multsp {{10}^{12}})}^2}}}}<br /> }<br />
 
Well thankyou very much gentlemen !
 
I refuse to vacation on a planet without an atmosphere.
 
Chronos said:
I refuse to vacation on a planet without an atmosphere.

I talked this over with the manager and he was very concerned by your reluctance. He has ordered an an atmosphere from Comets-R-Us which
will be fine-tuned to have the nice feature that its albedo effect (reflection from the tops of clouds, and snowfields) will exactly cancel its greenhouse effect.

therefore the planet will have exactly the same avg temperature of E-29
(283 kelvin)------equilibrium temp for a dark sphere at that distance from star----as it would with no atmosphere at all

they are offering some great rates on second homes and timeshares, so I would definitely consider it if you are looking for a place to spend the hols.
 

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