Energy and Boltzmann's Constant

In summary: I wrong in assuming this would just be E=h\nu?In summary, to find the average kinetic energy of a photon on the sun, you will need to use the Planck Law blackbody spectrum and Wien's Displacement law to determine the energy of the photon based on the sun's temperature. This will give you the average kinetic energy of the photon, which is equal to the photon's energy due to its motion. The energy of a photon from the sun is determined by the sun's temperature, and the peak of the blackbody spectrum curve gives the energy of the photon. Therefore, the average kinetic energy of a photon on the sun is equal to the peak energy of the Planck Law distribution curve, which can be calculated
  • #1
prolong199
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I have to find the average kinetic energy of a photon on the sun, given that E=kT where k=Boltzmann's Constant and the internal temperature of the sun is 15x10^6K. Can someone please leed me in the right direction, thanks.
 
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  • #2
Am I wrong in assuming that it would just be

[tex]E=E_{kin}[/tex]
[tex]kT=mv^2[/tex]
 
  • #3
prolong199 said:
I have to find the average kinetic energy of a photon on the sun, given that E=kT where k=Boltzmann's Constant and the internal temperature of the sun is 15x10^6K. Can someone please leed me in the right direction, thanks.
The question is poorly worded. Kinetic energy suggests that the photon's energy is due to motion. A photon has only one speed: c. It has only one kind of energy: E = [itex]h\nu[/itex].

The energy of a photon from the sun is determined by the sun's temperature. The Planck Law blackbody spectrum gives the energy distribution of a blackbody as a function of that body's temperature. The peak of the blackbody spectrum curve is the energy of the photon you are looking for. Wien's Displacement law will give you that photon energy (the peak of the Planck Law distribution curve).

AM
 

FAQ: Energy and Boltzmann's Constant

What is energy?

Energy is a property of matter that allows it to do work or cause change. It exists in many forms, such as kinetic, potential, thermal, and electromagnetic energy.

What is Boltzmann's Constant?

Boltzmann's Constant (symbol: k) is a physical constant that relates the average kinetic energy of particles in a gas to the temperature of the gas. It is approximately equal to 1.38 x 10^-23 joules per kelvin (J/K).

How is energy related to Boltzmann's Constant?

Energy and Boltzmann's Constant are related through the Boltzmann distribution, which describes the distribution of particle energies in a gas at a given temperature. It shows that the average kinetic energy of particles in a gas is directly proportional to Boltzmann's Constant and the temperature of the gas.

Why is Boltzmann's Constant important?

Boltzmann's Constant is important because it allows us to understand and predict the behavior of particles in a gas at different temperatures. It is a fundamental constant in thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, and is used in various equations and formulas to calculate energy and other physical properties.

How was Boltzmann's Constant discovered?

Boltzmann's Constant was first derived by Austrian physicist Ludwig Boltzmann in the late 19th century. He used statistical mechanics to relate the average kinetic energy of particles in a gas to the temperature of the gas, and found that the proportionality constant was equal to what is now known as Boltzmann's Constant.

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