Astronomy & Space
Intermediate

Wien's Displacement Law

Peak emission wavelength of a blackbody.

Formula

λmax=bT\lambda_{max} = \frac{b}{T}

Variables

bWien constant
TTemperature (K)

Example

The Sun peaks in green light (~500 nm), corresponding to its ~5800 K surface.

Did You Know?

Wien's law is why hot iron glows red then white — hotter objects peak at bluer wavelengths.

radiationstarstemperature