Exam-style question
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Explain how Wien's law can be used to determine the surface temperature of a star from its peak wavelength of emitted radiation.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- Wien's law states that the peak wavelength of radiation emitted by a black body is inversely proportional to its temperature.
- By measuring the peak wavelength, we can apply the formula to find the temperature of the star.
Explanation
Why this works
This question assesses understanding of the relationship defined by Wien's law. It requires students to articulate how the peak wavelength correlates with temperature, demonstrating comprehension of black-body radiation principles.
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