Two Interacting Black Body Objects

Highlights of the activity

1. This small group activity is designed to give students practice with analyzing interactions between black-body objects.
2. Students use the second thermodynamic law to draw conclusions about the heat transfer between the two black-body objects.
3. The whole class discussion re-introduces to the concept of a black-body object.

Reasons to spend class time on the activity

Throughout the Energy & Entropy course, students have been analyzing situations where heat exchange occurs through direct physical contact (i.e. ice cubes in a cup of water). This activity provides students the opportunity to analyze the thermodynamic interaction of two objects through exchange of electomagnetic radiation. Students will apply the same thermodynamic laws they have learned to a situation where two black body objects of different temperatures in an insulated vacuum exchange energy.

Reflections

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Instructor's Guide

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