Help with a heat transfer question

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a heat transfer problem within the context of emission and absorption in Atomic Physics. The original poster attempts to calculate the power emitted by a person using the Stefan-Boltzmann law and compares it to the ambient power, seeking to understand the heat loss dynamics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculations of power using the Stefan-Boltzmann law and consider the implications of using Wien's law to find maximum wavelengths. There is also a focus on the method of calculating heat loss over time, with questions about the correctness of multiplying or dividing by time factors.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different interpretations of the calculations and questioning the methods used. Some guidance has been offered regarding time factors in heat loss calculations, but no consensus has been reached on the correct approach to arrive at the desired answer.

Contextual Notes

There is mention of a specific correct answer that the original poster is trying to achieve, but the methods attempted so far have not yielded this result. The participants are navigating through various assumptions and calculations without a clear resolution.

Zeynaz
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Homework Statement
The human body emits heat radiation. At the same time, body receives heat radiation from the environment. If the ambient temperature is lower than the body temperature there will be a net loss of heat.

Someone has a skin area of 1.8 m2 and a skin temperature of 32 Celsius degrees. The ambient temperature is 15 C.

- Calculate the net heat loss in joule for one hour.
Relevant Equations
Stefan-Boltzmann's Law --- P= (S-B constant)*A*T^4
wavelength-max= (wiens constant)/T
This question is in a unit about emission and absorption, Atomic Physics

So far, I calculated the Power that the person gives off which is by using the S-B law formula.
P= (s-b constant)*1.8*305K^4= 883 W (or Joules per second)

for the ambient i used the same formula and found P= 702 W

I tried to take the difference in these and divide it it by 60 to find joules per hour but the answer is wrong.
I am not sure which way i should go. I thought about Wiens law to find the max wavelength of each places and apply this to E=hf= hc/wavelength. Then just take the difference between them. would that be a correct way?
 
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Zeynaz said:
divide it it by 60
Would you lose more heat in a second or more in an hour?
 
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haruspex said:
Would you lose more heat in a second or more in an hour?
Ohh i see. I had to multiply it by 60
 
Zeynaz said:
Ohh i see. I had to multiply it by 60
Right.
 
I tried it like that but it didnt work out. i found the loss of heat per hour for both the body and the environment. and i added these together (because loss of heat of human plus the environment). Because my answer was wrong i tried to subtract these values but still not correct.
The correct answer is 6.5E5 J but i don't know that to get there.
 

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