Lab Activity – Exploring Blackbody Radiation

By Jessica Villagomez

Objective:

Use the PhET simulation to explore how blackbody radiation changes with temperature, and understand the relationship between temperature, wavelength, and color.

Click the link and familiarize yourself with the simulation.
1 min

​ https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/blackbody-spectrum/latest/blackbody-spectrum_all.html

Fill in the table by adjusting the temperature and observing the corresponding peak wavelength and color.

• "Graph Values"

• "Labels"

• "Intensity"

​Enable Graph Features: Check the boxes for:

Data collection: 10 min

Wien’s Displacement Law

• 🔥 Hotter objects emit light with shorter wavelengths (bluer light)

• ❄️ Cooler objects emit light with longer wavelengths (redder light)

• 🔍 Example: A stove coil turns from red to white as it heats up!

• This law explains why blue stars are hotter and red stars are cooler.

Answer the questions on your handout:
15 minutes

• Use complete sentences

• Once the lab is completed go to Quizizz

  Part B Exploring Blackbody Radiation