An atmospheric probe detects the emission and absorption of infrared radiation from a newly discovered planet across three distinct spectral bands, as shown in Table 1.
| Spectral Band | Range of Wavelengths |
|---|---|
| Band Alpha | 850 nm850\text{ nm}850 nm to 2150 nm2150\text{ nm}2150 nm |
| Band Beta | 2.15 μm2.15\ \mu\text{m}2.15 μm to 5.45 μm5.45\ \mu\text{m}5.45 μm |
| Band Gamma | 5450 nm5450\text{ nm}5450 nm to 7850 nm7850\text{ nm}7850 nm |
Determine which spectral band of infrared radiation shown in Table 1 has the largest range of wavelengths.
To gain full marks, you must calculate the range of wavelengths for each spectral band in a consistent unit.
4 exam-style questions on AQA GCSE Physics 6.3 Black body radiation, covering 6.3.1 Emission and absorption of infrared radiation and 6.3.2 Perfect black bodies and radiation. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.