Measurement of the position of the peak in an object's thermal spectrum is a measure of its
A) chemical composition
B) temperature
C) mass
D) distance

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The position of the peak in an object's thermal spectrum is determined by its temperature. This is known as Wien's law, which states that the wavelength of maximum emission is inversely proportional to the temperature. Therefore, measuring the position of the peak can help determine the temperature of the object. It does not provide information about the chemical composition, mass, or distance of the object.

Measurement of the Position of the Peak in an Object's