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Question #43626
The Question
A solid, highly thermally conductive sphere of radius is placed in deep space at an ambient temperature of . A broad, unidirectional monochromatic laser beam of wavelength and uniform photon flux (number of photons per unit area per unit time) illuminates the sphere. The surface of the sphere has a wavelength-dependent spectral hemispherical absorptivity given by for and for . Given that and the sphere's steady-state temperature is such that virtually all of its thermal emission occurs at wavelengths , which of the following expressions gives the steady-state temperature of the sphere? (Assume is Planck's constant, is the speed of light, and is the Stefan-Boltzmann constant).
Options
- A.
- B.
- C.
- D.
Check Your Answer
Correct Answer
Step-by-Step Solution
Explanation
How the Examiner Thinks
Intuition_Breaker
Train your brain to resist "obvious" answers that are designed to deceive your intuition.
Concepts Behind This Question
Intensity and Photon Flux|Emissivity and Absorptivity|Approximation
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
This question tests the student's understanding of thermal equilibrium under selective spectral filtering, specifically targeting the misuse of the Stefan-Boltzmann law.
A common trap is assuming a body acts as a 'grey body' with a single effective emissivity/absorptivity for both incoming and outgoing radiation.
Here, the absorbed power depends strictly on the absorptivity at the incident monochromatic wavelength (), while the emitted power depends on the emissivity integrated over the thermal emission spectrum ().
Furthermore, it tests the geometric distinction between the projected area () for intercepting a directional beam and the total surface area () for isotropic thermal emission.
Students who blindly equate to incoming intensity without accounting for spectral mismatch and geometric factors will fall into the traps.
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Physics |
| Chapter | Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter - Class 12 |
| Concept | Intensity and Photon Flux |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 7 |
| Target Solve Time | 160 sec |
| Access | Free |