Understanding Plank's Law of Black Body Radiation

In summary, Plank's Law, which describes black body radiation, is derived from first principles. It is uncertain why it is labeled as a "law," as this term does not indicate the level of validity or fundamental nature of a concept in physics. The names given to equations and concepts are largely based on historical tradition.
  • #1
Zman
96
0
Plank’s Law which descibes black body radiation is derived from first principles so I am not quite sure why it is called a Law.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plank_law"
 
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  • #2
There are other things to worry about rather than about a label we give to something. The term "law" does not give any implication about the degree of validity of something, i.e. a "theory" doesn't graduate to become a "law" upon a certain level of certainty.

Zz.
 
  • #3
Also, calling something a "law" in physics doesn't imply anything about how fundamental it is. Newton's laws of motion are certainly fundamental in classical mechanics, but Ohm's Law is not fundamental in electromagnetism, nor is Newton's law of cooling fundamental in thermodynamics.

The names that we give to equations and concepts are basically a matter of historical tradition.
 

Related to Understanding Plank's Law of Black Body Radiation

1. What is Plank's Law of Black Body Radiation?

Plank's Law of Black Body Radiation is a fundamental law in physics that describes the spectral intensity of electromagnetic radiation emitted by a black body at a given temperature. It states that the intensity of radiation at a specific wavelength is proportional to the temperature and follows a specific curve known as the black body curve.

2. What is a black body?

A black body is a hypothetical object that absorbs all radiation incident upon it and emits radiation at all wavelengths. It is often used as a theoretical model to understand the behavior of real objects that absorb and emit radiation, such as stars, planets, and other objects in the universe.

3. How is Plank's Law used in practical applications?

Plank's Law is used in a variety of practical applications, such as in the development of thermal imaging cameras, solar panels, and LED lights. It is also used in astrophysics to study the radiation emitted by stars and other celestial objects.

4. Why is Plank's Law important?

Plank's Law is important because it provides a mathematical framework for understanding the behavior of black bodies and their emission of radiation. It also has applications in various fields of science and technology, making it a crucial concept for scientists and engineers to understand.

5. How did Max Plank discover this law?

Max Plank discovered this law in 1900 while trying to understand the behavior of black bodies. He proposed that the energy of a black body is quantized, meaning it can only take on certain discrete values, which led to the development of quantum mechanics. Plank's Law is one of the cornerstone principles of this branch of physics.

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