1. Home
  2. / Wilhelm Wien
  3. / What was the significance of Wien discovering the mathematical relationship between the peak wavelength of radiation emitted by a blackbody and its temperature?

What was the significance of Wien discovering the mathematical relationship between the peak wavelength of radiation emitted by a blackbody and its temperature?

  • It ignored classical physics

  • It led to Planck's law

  • It led to the birth of quantum mechanics

  • It validated Newton's laws of motion

Answer

Wien's law of thermal radiation, which relates the peak wavelength of thermal radiation emitted by a blackbody to its temperature, was a significant discovery that led to the birth of quantum mechanics. In 1900, Max Planck proposed a quantum theory of radiation to explain this law. Planck's theory was the first step in the development of quantum mechanics, which is now one of the most important branches of physics.
Wonderful Wilhelm Wien: A Journey through the Life of a Visionary Physicist

Wonderful Wilhelm Wien: A Journey through the Life of a Visionary Physicist

Take the Wilhelm Wien Quiz
Subscribe newsletter

Subscribe Now!

Learn something
new everyday

Playing quizzes is free! We send 1 quiz every week to your inbox