Part 1

Introduction to Thermal Radiation

Based on the physics laws, there are two
ways to view thermal radiation:
1.Energy is being transported by
electromagnetic waves.
2. Energy is being transported by photon.

These theoretical concepts are needed in order to

properly describe the radiation phenomena.
Electromagnetic wave theory is commonly used to
describe the effects of surface properties.
Quantum theory is being used to describe the
effects of radiation through absorbing and emitting
media

Based on the electromagnetic wave theory, the

radiation travels at the speed of light.
Based on the Quantum theory, the radiant energy is
carried away from the source by photons and each
photon with its different energy level travels at the
speed of light.
The energy of photons is related to its frequency and
the Plank constant h that becomes e=h with
h=6.62510-34 J s. Also, it is to be noted that e=mc2,
based on the Einstein theory.

This provides the mass of a photon to be obtainable

from the relation
e=h=mc2
as
m=h/c2
and then the photons momentum becomes
mc=h/c
Furthermore, the photon speed, c, depends on the
medium within its path. Often, it is equal to the
speed of light in vacuum, c0; otherwise it is
c=c0/n
where n is the index of refraction, to be addressed
later.

The values and behaviors of these parameters are the

main topics within the following presentations.

3.0

2.5

2.0

ib 105
T5

Rayleigh-Jean

1.5
Planck
1.0

Wien's formula

0.5

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

T 103

Figure 1. Variations of ib (W/m2) with wave length ().

See the next figure

Figure 2. A view of the energy characteristics at different wavelengths.

Figure 3. Variations of eb (W/m2) with wave length () at

different temperatures.

It is a common practice to study emitted radiation

traveling in different directions. It is to view the
energy traveling within a differential element
called Solid Angle. The coordinates of a
traveling ray as shown in Figure 4(a) are in
spherical coordinates (r, , ). Then, the
differential element within a solid angle d is
depicted in Figure 4(b) where

d dA
r2

z
(r,, )

x
Figure 4(a). Spherical coordinates for radiation
exchange.

z
(r,, )

r
y

x
Figure 4(b). Spherical coordinates and a differential element
for radiation exchange.

Intensity of Radiation Relations

Homework Problems:
1. A laboratory black body operates at 1800K. At what
wavelength does the maximum value of eb occur? What
percentage of its output lie in the following ranges: 0 to
0.4, 4 to 8, 8 to 12, 12 to 16, 16 to ? Take n=1.
2. The spectral emissive power of a non-black body can be
found by multiplying eb by . Suppose that is
independent of (gray-body radiation). Show that under
these condition, The value of

is the fraction of radiation from a black body within the

range 0 to T, available from Table 1.