Textbook Figure 1B.1

[Ashley_Sudjono_3K]

In the graph of energy density against wavelength of radiation at different temperatures (Figure 1B.1), what does the bell shape of the curves represent?

[006263523]

It represents that one wavelength is not favored and so when different temperatures are tested, they all follow a similar pattern of energy density.

[Evan Sang 1K]

The curve for each temperature represents the intensity of energy emission as wavelength changes. Blackbodies don't emit equal amounts of energy for each wavelength, so the peaks of each curve represent the wavelength the intensity of energy emission is highest. For blackbodies like stars, for example, we would detect the wavelength corresponding with the peak of the curve the strongest, and can use that information to tell the temperature of the star/blackbody.