Determining the Best Wavelength for Darwin's Space Mission

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around estimating the best wavelength for observations in the proposed Darwin space mission, which aims to detect thermal radiation from Earth-like planets. Participants explore the application of Wien's law in this context.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests using Wien's law to calculate the best wavelength, indicating the need for the absolute temperature in Kelvin.
  • The same participant expresses confusion regarding the temperature, mistakenly thinking it was -273, leading to a negative wavelength calculation.
  • Another participant clarifies that the temperature should be the Celsius temperature plus 273, implying that absolute temperatures cannot be negative.
  • A later reply acknowledges the confusion and thanks the participants for their assistance.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the need to use absolute temperature in Kelvin for the calculations, but there is no consensus on the specific temperature values or their implications for the wavelength estimation.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not resolve the specific temperature values needed for the calculations, and there is an unresolved misunderstanding regarding the conversion from Celsius to Kelvin.

wyse
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here's the question:

'Darwin is a proposed space mission to detect thermal radiation from Earth-like
planets.
Estimate the best wavelength for carrying out observations with Darwin.'

i'm guessing we need to use wien's law(from an earlier part of the question), and so we need the absolute temp in kelvin to calculate the wavelength. but the problem is i thought T=-273, so putting this into wien's law gives a negative wavlength.

can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong.

thanks in advance
 
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Welcome to PF!

Hi wyse! Welcome to PF! :smile:

T is the temperature of the Earth-like planet, ie the temperature Celsius plus 273 :wink:
 
wyse said:
we need the absolute temp in kelvin to calculate the wavelength. but the problem is i thought T=-273,

Since when can an absolute temperature be negative? :smile:
 
thanks for the replies, i don't know where i got the negative from.

cheers!
 

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