Question

Outer space is filled with a sea of photons, created in the early moments of the universe. The frequency distribution of this "cosmic background radiation" matches that of a blackbody at a temperature near 2.7 K.The peak frequency of this radiation is 1.6 x 10^11 Hz.

What is the wavelength that corresponds to the peak frequency?

Answer 1

The cosmic background radiation is electromagnetic radiation, principally in the microwave region. The wavelength of an electromagnetic wave is defined as:

$\lambda=\frac{c}{f}$

Where c is the speed of light in vaccum and f the frequency of the wave. Replacing the known values, we can calculate the wavelength that corresponds to the peak frequency:

$\lambda=\frac{3*10^8\frac{m}{s}}{1.6*10^{11}Hz}\\\lambda=1.87*10^{-3}m$

Answer 2

Answer:

the wavelength that corresponds to the peak frequency is 1.875x10⁻³m

Explanation:

The wavelength that corresponds to the peak frequency is:

$\lambda =\frac{c}{f}$

where

c = speed of light = 3x10⁸m/s

f = 1.6x10¹¹Hz = peak frequency

So, replacing:

$\lambda =\frac{3x10^{8} }{1.6x10^{11} } =1.875x10^{-3} m$