Black body

In physics, a black body is an object that absorbs all electromagnetic radiation that falls onto it. No radiation passes through it and none is reflected. Despite the name, black bodies are not actually black as they radiate energy as well. How much electromagnetic radiation they give off just depends on their temperature. Black bodies below around 700K produce very little radiation at visible wavelengths and appear black. Black bodies above this temperature however, start to produce radiation at visible wavelengths starting at red, going through orange, yellow and white before ending up at blue as the temperature increases.

Related Topics:
Physics - Electromagnetic radiation - Reflected

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The term "black body" was introduced by Gustav Kirchhoff in 1862. The light emitted by a black body is called black-body radiation{{fn|1}}.

Related Topics:
Gustav Kirchhoff - 1862

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