Blackbody Radiation Visualiser

Explore how stellar temperature changes the shape of a blackbody curve, peak wavelength, and apparent colour.

Controls

Temperature: 5778 K

Peak wavelength 501.5 nm

Visible colour trend Yellow-white

Law used Wien’s Law

Physics idea

A blackbody emits radiation across many wavelengths. As temperature increases, the peak of the curve shifts towards shorter wavelengths, making hotter stars appear bluer and cooler stars appear redder.

λmax = b / T