A thermal camera monitors two identical ceramic heating elements in an industrial oven. The elements have the same surface area and surface finish, and both are the same distance from the camera.
A higher detector reading means that more infrared energy reaches the camera each second.
| Time in minutes | Detector reading for element P in arbitrary units | Detector reading for element Q in arbitrary units |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 36 | 44 |
| 4 | 58 | 51 |
What do the readings at 0 minutes show about the temperatures of elements P and Q?
After 4 minutes, the temperature of element P continues to rise and the temperature of element Q begins to fall.
Predict how the difference between the two detector readings will change. Explain your answer.
106 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.