Temperature derived from ratio of blackbody radiation

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on deriving the surface temperature of a star using the ratio of blackbody fluxes at two different frequencies, as outlined in the problem from "Astrophysics In A Nutshell" by Dan Maoz. The key equation involved is the Stefan-Boltzmann law, represented as F=σT^4, which relates flux to temperature. The challenge lies in incorporating the distance to the star, which affects the measured flux on Earth, thereby allowing for temperature calculation despite unknown solid angles and distances.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of blackbody radiation principles
  • Familiarity with the Stefan-Boltzmann law
  • Knowledge of flux measurements in astrophysics
  • Basic grasp of ratios and their application in physics
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of the Stefan-Boltzmann law in detail
  • Explore the concept of blackbody radiation and its equations
  • Learn about flux measurement techniques in astrophysics
  • Investigate methods for calculating distances to stars
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Astronomy students, astrophysicists, and educators seeking to understand the relationship between blackbody radiation and stellar temperature calculations.

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Homework Statement



Show that the ratio of the blackbody fluxes from a star at two different frequencies (i.e., a color) is measured, then, in principle, the surface temperature of the star can be derived, even if the star's solid angle on the sky is unknown (e.g., if it is too distant to be spatially resolved, and its distance and surface area are both unknown).

Hint:
Remember that the quantity we measure is a flux on the surface of Earth. This will depend on (omega) and distance of a star. Flux in the formula for Stefan-Boltzmann's law is the flux on the surface of a star.

This problem is from Astrophysics In A Nutshell by Dan Maoz.

Homework Equations



F=σT^4

The Attempt at a Solution



No clue. It seems like no matter how I do ratios the temperature cancels out.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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You only have Stephan-Boltzmann's law there - you also need to factor in the distance to the star (see "hint") and the formula for blackbody radiation (from main question).
 

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