1979 Stefan-Boltzmann law

Stefan-Boltzmann law

• Black-body radiant exitance
• is directly proportional to
• the fourth power of the body’s
• thermodynamic temperature,
• where the constant of proportionality
• is derived from
• the Boltzmann and Planck’s constants,
• and the speed of light in a vacuum.

The Stefan-Boltzmann law

• gives us the temperature
• of the surface of the sun,
• radii of the stars,
• radiation from black holes,
• and helps calibrate
• modern pyrometers
• to read an object’s temperature
• from a distance.

From a distance

• I see by your outfit
• that you are a cowboy.
• I see by my eyes
• from a trick of the light.
• The glints in your eyes
• hint of your passion.
• They show you’ve been wronged
• and can’t make it right.