Disappearing-filament pyrometer Ideal emissivity Disappearing act Commentary

Ferdinand Kurlbaum, Ludwig Holborn, Harmon Northrup Morse thermometry

Disappearing-filament pyrometer

A hot filament at the focal plane of the objective lens of a Keplerian telescope, given a line of sight to a glowing hot object, was the first device that could measure temperatures over 1000°C. According to the rule that two objects at the same temperature emit the same black-body spectrum, the filament and the object have the same temperature when, focused on the hot object, and adjusting the current that heats the filament, the filament seems to disappear.

Ideal emissivity

An ideal black body emits the same energy at the same frequency as any other ideal black body in thermal equilibrium at the same temperature. Other than that, everything’s an imperfect black body, emitting radiation all the time, unless it’s as cold as absolute zero. You just can’t necessarily see its radiation.

Disappearing act

Alone in a darkened room, as in a box that reflects no light, you might see the heat rising from an extinguished candle, or a light-show moving slowly when you shut your eyes tightly. Although the room has disappeared, other senses tell you you remain in its space. When they left him alone in a sound-proof room, John Cage was alarmed by the rushing of his blood. There’s no reason to panic; nothing is gone except the light. Reason alone tells you the rabbit is back in the hat.