Why is it called the ultraviolet catastrophe?

[genefalk]

Why is it called the ultraviolet catastrophe rather than the visible catastrophe or the microwave catastrophe?

 

[phinds]

Why is it called the ultraviolet catastrophe rather than the visible catastrophe or the microwave catastrophe?

A simple internet search tells me that the measured curve as predicted by Plank's Law peaks in the ultraviolet rather than going on to infinity as predicted by the classical Rayleigh-Jeans Law and I'd guess that's why it's called the "Ultraviolet Catastrophy". You would likely find it helpful to learn how to do simple research.

 

[genefalk]

Thank you for your kind words.

 

[dextercioby]

This is easy. Ehrenfest had only one option, really. X rays and Gamma rays were unknown terminology to him and he really cared about the limits of the visible spectrum. Pringsheim did measurements there.