Blackbody Radiation Spectrum of Stars

Steps:

• Identify the graph as a continuous curve peaking at a specific wavelength, characteristic of thermal emission.
• Recall that stars approximate blackbodies, emitting radiation following Planck's law.
• Note the peak wavelength shifts with temperature per Wien's displacement law: λ_max ∝ 1/T.
• Match the graph's peak position to estimate stellar temperature, confirming blackbody behavior.

Why C is correct:

• C depicts the expected blackbody curve with a single intensity peak, aligning with Planck's law for stellar thermal radiation.

Why the others are wrong:

• A shows emission lines, typical of hot gas but not overall stellar continuum.
• B shows absorption lines, indicating cooler atmosphere overlay but not the emission profile.
• D shows a flat or irregular spectrum, inconsistent with thermal blackbody emission.

Final answer: C