Thermal Physics - NEET Physics Questions
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Thermal Physics

Question 341: moderate

Three stars A, B, C have surface temperatures $T_A$, $T_B$, $T_C$ respectively. Star A appears bluish, star B appears reddish and star C yellowish. Hence, (2020-Covid)

1. $T_B > T_C > T_A$
2. $T_C > T_B > T_A$
3. $T_A > T_C > T_B$
4. $T_A > T_B > T_C$
View Answer

According to Wien's displacement law, $\lambda_{max} \propto \frac{1}{T}$. The wavelength of red is greater than yellow, which is greater than blue ($\lambda_B > \lambda_C > \lambda_A$). Therefore, the temperatures will be in the reverse order: $T_A > T_C > T_B$.

Question 342: moderate

The power radiated by a black body is $P$ and it radiates maximum energy at wavelength, $\lambda_0$. If the temperature of the black body is now changed so that it radiates maximum energy at wavelength $\frac{3}{4}\lambda_0$, the power radiated by it becomes $nP$. The value of $n$ is: (2018)

1. $\frac{256}{81}$
2. $\frac{4}{3}$
3. $\frac{3}{4}$
4. $\frac{81}{256}$
View Answer

From Wien's displacement law, $T \propto 1/\lambda_{max}$. Thus $T'/T = \lambda_0 / (3\lambda_0/4) = 4/3$. According to Stefan's law, Power $P \propto T^4$. So, $P'/P = (T'/T)^4 = (4/3)^4 = 256/81$.

Question 343: moderate

A spherical black body with a radius of $12\text{ cm}$ radiates $450\text{ watt}$ power at $500\text{ K}$. If the radius were halved and the temperature doubled, the power radiated in watt would be: (2017-Delhi)

1. $450$
2. $1000$
3. $1800$
4. $225$
View Answer

Power radiated $P = \sigma A T^4 = \sigma (4\pi r^2) T^4 \Rightarrow P \propto r^2 T^4$. Given $r' = r/2$ and $T' = 2T$. Thus, $P' = P(1/2)^2 (2)^4 = P(1/4)(16) = 4P = 4 \times 450 = 1800\text{ W}$.

Question 344: moderate

A black body is at a temperature of $5760\text{ K}$. The energy of radiation emitted by the body at wavelength $250\text{ nm}$ is $U_1$, at wavelength $500\text{ nm}$ is $U_2$ and that at $1000\text{ nm}$ is $U_3$. Wien’s constant, $b = 2.88 \times 10^6\text{ nmK}$. Which of the following is correct? (2016 – I)

1. $U_1 = 0$
2. $U_3 = 0$
3. $U_1 > U_2$
4. $U_2 > U_1$
View Answer

From Wien's displacement law, $\lambda_{max} = \frac{b}{T} = \frac{2.88 \times 10^6}{5760} = 500\text{ nm}$. This means maximum energy is radiated at $500\text{ nm}$. Therefore, the energy $U_2$ is maximum, so $U_2 > U_1$ and $U_2 > U_3$.

Question 345: moderate

On observing light from three different stars P, Q and R, it was found that intensity of violet color is maximum in the spectrum of P, the intensity of green color is maximum in the spectrum of R and the intensity of red color is maximum in the spectrum of Q. If $T_P$, $T_Q$ and $T_R$ are the respective absolute temperatures of P, Q and R then it can be concluded from the above observations that: (2015)

1. $T_P > T_R > T_Q$
2. $T_P < T_R < T_Q$
3. $T_P < T_Q < T_R$
4. $T_P > T_Q > T_R$
View Answer

The wavelengths corresponding to maximum intensity are $\lambda_P < \lambda_R < \lambda_Q$ because violet has the shortest wavelength and red has the longest. From Wien's law, $T \propto 1/\lambda_{max}$. Thus, the temperatures are in the reverse order: $T_P > T_R > T_Q$.

Question 346: moderate

A piece of iron is heated in a flame. It first becomes dull red then becomes reddish yellow and finally turns to white hot. The correct explanation for the above observation is possible by using: (2013)

1. Newton's Law of cooling
2. Stefan's Law
3. Wien's displacement Law
4. Kirchoff's Law
View Answer

As the temperature of the iron increases, the wavelength at which it emits maximum energy decreases, according to Wien's displacement law ($lambda_{max} T = text{constant}$). This causes the color to shift from longer wavelengths (red) to shorter wavelengths (yellow, then all visible mixing to white).

Question 347: moderate

A block body at $1227^{\circ}\text{C}$ emits radiations with maximum intensity at a wavelength of $5000\text{ \AA}$. If the temperature of the body is increased by $1000^{\circ}\text{C}$, the maximum intensity will be observed at (2006)

1. $3000\text{ \AA}$
2. $4000\text{ \AA}$
3. $5000\text{ \AA}$
4. $6000\text{ \AA}$
View Answer

From Wien's displacement law, $\lambda_m T = \text{constant}$. $\lambda_1 T_1 = \lambda_2 T_2 \Rightarrow 5000 \times (1227+273) = \lambda_2 \times (1227+1000+273) \Rightarrow \lambda_2 = \frac{5000 \times 1500}{2500} = 3000\text{ \AA}$.

Question 348: moderate

We consider the radiation emitted by the human, body. Which of the following statements is true: (2003)

1. The radiation emitted is in the infrared regions
2. The radiation is emitted only during the day.
3. The radiation is emitted during the summers and absorbed during the winters.
4. The radiation emitted lies in the ultraviolet region and hence is not visible
View Answer

The temperature of the human body is about $310 \text{ K}$. According to Wien's law, the maximum emission wavelength is around $9.3 \mu\text{m}$, which falls in the infrared region.

Question 349: moderate

The Wien’s displacement law express relation between (2002)

1. Wavelength corresponding to maximum energy and temperature.
2. Radiation energy and wavelength
3. Temperature and wavelength
4. Colour of light and temperature
View Answer

Wien's displacement law states that the wavelength $\lambda_m$ corresponding to maximum spectral emissive power of a black body is inversely proportional to its absolute temperature $T$. So, it relates $\lambda_m$ and $T$.

Question 350: moderate

Which of the following is best close to an ideal black body: (2002)

1. Black lamp
2. Cavity maintained at constant temperature
3. Platinum black
4. A lump of charcoal heated to high temp.
View Answer

Ferry's black body consists of a hollow double-walled sphere with a small opening. Radiation entering it suffers multiple reflections and gets absorbed. So a cavity maintained at constant temperature is the closest to an ideal black body.