Two Interacting Black Body Objects

Highlights of the activity

1. For this activity, students are placed in small groups and asked to analyze the interaction between two black body objects in an insulated vacuum.
2. Students will use the second thermodynamic law to draw conclusions about the heat transfer between the two black body objects.
3. Re-introduced 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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