DETERMINATION OF STEFAN’S CONSTANT USING A BLACKBODY

OBJECTIVE
To determine the value of Stefan-Boltzmann Constant using a copper
blackbody radiator.

APPARATUS
blackbody radiator, digital temperature indicator, experimental circuit
board.

THEORY
A body having a surface which can absorb the radiation of all of the
wavelengths incident on it, is called a perfectly blackbody.
For such a body both the coefficient of
absorption& the coefficient of emission is 1. Because a good
absorber is also a good radiator of energy. A perfect black
body is an ideal concept. By virtue of temperature all objects
in the universe emit thermal radiation. Lamp black or
platinum black is nearest approach to a blackbody. Lamp
black can absorb about 96% of the radiation incident on it,
and platinum Black absorbs about 98%.
For experimental purposes, a metallic hollow sphere or a box with a small
hole in its surface can be treated as a near perfect blackbody radiator. The small hole
thus acts as a perfect absorber of radiation.
The radiation within a uniform temperature enclosure in equilibrium with its
surroundings is called blackbody radiation at the given temperature of the enclosure.
Therefore, the radiation coming out from such an enclosure, through an opening in it, at
any temperature of its walls, is the blackbody radiation at that temperature.
The total radiation emitted per unit area per unit time by a perfectly
blackbody at temperature T is called Total Emissive Power (E) of the body at that
temperature for all wavelengths. Therefore, it follows that the total emissive power E of
blackbody depends only on the temperature, T of the blackbody.
On the basis of the experimental data of Tyndol, Dulong and Petit, in 1897
Stefan arrived at an empirical formula to account for heat radiation. According to him
the energy radiated per unit area per unit time from a black body is directly proportional
to fourth power of its surface temperature.
E 4 E 4
αT ⇒ =σ T
A A

where, E= thermal energy radiated per unit time

T= surface temperature
A= total surface area of the blackbody
W
σ = Stefan’s constant( = 5.67 x 10-8 2 4)
m K

Later, in 1884 Boltzmann derived the law from Planck’s Radiation formula.

DERIVATION
The energy density of the total radiation of all wavelengths in a blackbody
enclosure temperature T is given by:
∞ ∞
8 πhc 1
U =∫ U λ dλ=∫ . dλ
λ5
hc
0 0 λ KT
e −1
hc hc
Let x= λ KT ⇒ λ=
KTx
−hc
⇒ d λ= 2
dx
KT x

Here when λ=0 λ=∞

⇒ x=∞ and when ⇒ x=0

Hence,
∞

( ) e 1−1 ( KT−hcx ) dx
5
KTx
U =∫ 8 πhc x 2
0 hc

( )
∞ 4 4 3
8πK T x
¿−∫ 3 3 x
dx
0 h c e −1
4 4 ∞ 3
8π K T
¿ 3 3
h c
∫ e xx−1 dx
0

4
π
The value of the integral is 15
 4 4 4
8π K T π
U= 3 3
.
h c 15

( )
5 4
4 2π K 4
⇒U = 3 2
T →A
c 15 h c

For any black body the total radiation of all wavelengths emitted per unit area per
second at a given temperature is given by the equation:

( EA )= c4 .U ⇒ U = 4c ( EA )→ B
On comparing A & B , we get

( )
5 4
E 2π K 4
= 3 2
T
A 15 h c

5 4
E 4 2π K −8 Watt
Or A
=σ T where σ =¿ 3 2
=5.67 x10 2 4
m K
15 h c

This is called Stefan-Boltzmann law of radiation.

The constant ‘ σ ‘ is called Stefan’s Constant.

EXPERIMENTAL SETUP
In the experimental setup, thermal radiations from a spherical copper ball
are used to verify the Stefan’s law. An electric heater of 2 watts is fitted inside the
copper ball and sealed by heatsink compound. A thin layer of heat sink compound is
painted in the inside wall of the copper ball. This helps in transferring the heat from the
heater to the rest of the sphere uniformly. A digital thermometer is used to measure the
surface temperature of the sphere.

The heater used in the experiment is a linear

heater because its I-V characteristics are linear. The
efficiency of heater is 90% above 1 watt and below 1.8
watts of input power. Above 1.8 watts of power the
heater showed deviation from linearity and below 1-watt loading is not sufficient hence
the efficiency is not guaranteed. Hence the heater is operated well within these limits.

PROCEDURE
 Determine the surface area of the copper ball using the given diameter (d=26mm) of
the ball.
 Make the connections on the experimental setup board as shown in the circuit
diagram above.
 Set the voltage to 3.4V and note down the current from the digital ammeter.
 Calculate the input power and note it down in the table.
 Leave the blackbody radiator for 10-15min and let it reach the steady state
temperature.
 Note down the temperature from the digital thermometer.
 Repeat the above procedure by varying the voltage in steps of 0.2V up to a maximum
of 4.2V.
 Calculate the average value of ‘σ’ and compare it with the actual value.

TABLE OF DATA

CALCULATONS
 Surface Area

()
2
2 d
A=4 π r =4 π
2

( )
2
26
mm =21.24 cm =21.24X 10−4 m2
2 2
¿4 π
2

 Stefan’s Constant
E 4 E V xI
=σ T ⇒σ = =
A AT
4
AT
4
 7
4.02 x 0.360 x 10 −8 Watt
σ= −4 4
=5.62 x 10 2 4
21.24 x 10 x(58.8+273) m K

ERROR ANALYSIS
δσ =σ ( δVV + δII + 4 Tδ T ) Note: Diameter is given ⇒ No Error

¿ 5.62 ( 0.01 0.001 4 (0.1)

+ +
4.02 0.360 331.8
x 10−8)
−8 Watt
1.04 x 10 2 4
m K
−8 Watt
σ =(5.62 ± 0.04) X 10 2 4
m K

Expected Value−Obtained Value

 Relative Error %= Expected Value
X 100

(5.67−5.20 ) X 10−8
Relative Error %= X 100
5.67 X 10−8

8%
RESULT
The Stefan-Boltzmann constant was determined using a copper blackbody radiator and
−8 Watt
was found to be 5 . 62 X 10 2
m K
4 with a relative error of 8% and the Stefan’s Law was
verified.
PRECAUTIONS
 T4 - so be cautious while taking reading else error will be large.
 Voltage knob should be adjusted to minimum before switching off the apparatus.