How Can Radiation Be Used to Determine the Temperature of an Object?

[al_201314]

As I was doing my revision I came across this question though only 2 marks but I haven't got any ideas on it.

The radiation emitted by a hot boday may be used as a means of determining the temperature of the body. Suggest and explain a property of the radiation that could be used for this purpose. Name one advantage and disadvantage of this method for measuring the temp.


From my understanding of radiation, they are photons since they emit electromagnetic radiation at all temperatures. But how do I use this property to measure the temperature of a certain body? I can't relate this quanta of energies to temperature?

Any help is appreciated!

 

[Hootenanny]

HINT: Infrared spectroscopy.

 

[kyle8921]

One property of radiation that could be used to determine the temperature of a body is the peak wavelength of the emitted radiation. This is known as Wien's displacement law, which states that the peak wavelength of radiation emitted by a blackbody is inversely proportional to its temperature. This means that the hotter the body, the shorter the peak wavelength of its emitted radiation will be.

One advantage of using this method is that it can be done remotely, without the need for direct contact with the body. This can be useful in situations where direct contact may be hazardous or impossible, such as in space exploration or monitoring the temperature of a distant object.

However, a disadvantage of this method is that it requires precise and accurate measurements of the peak wavelength, which can be challenging to obtain. Additionally, it may not be suitable for all types of bodies, as the radiation emitted may be affected by factors such as surface properties or surrounding environment.