All Problems

Thermal Radiation. Quantum Nature of Light.

Problem 5.249

The spectral composition of solar radiation is much the same as that of a black body whose maximum emission corresponds to the wavelength \(0.48 \mu \mathrm{m} .\) Find the mass lost by the Sun every second due to radiation. Evaluate the time interval during which the mass of the Sun diminishes by 1 per cent.

Reveal Answer
5109 kg/s, about 1011 years. 5 \cdot 10^{9} \mathrm{~kg} / \mathrm{s}, \text { about } 10^{11} \text { years. }