Prior to Planck's work, it had been assumed that the energy of a body could take on any value whatsoever – that it was a continuous variable. The Rayleigh–Jeans law makes close predictions for a narrow range of values at one limit of temperatures, but the results diverge more and more strongly as temperatures increase. To make Planck's law, which correctly predicts blackbody emissions, it was necessary to multiply the classical expression by a complex factor that involves h in both the numerator and the denominator. The influence of h in this complex factor would not disappear if it were set to zero or to any other value. Making an equation out of Planck's law that would reproduce the Rayleigh–Jeans law could not be done by changing the values of h, of the Boltzmann constant, or of any other constant or variable in the equation. In this case the picture given by classical physics is not duplicated by a range of results in the quantum picture. COUNT 9
QSN1 Before Planck, it was assumed that the energy of a body could take on what value? ANS1 any QSN2 The Rayleigh-Jeans law makes close predictions for what amount of values? ANS2 a narrow range QSN3 What does Planck's law correctly predict? ANS3 blackbody emissions QSN4 In making Planck's law, what was in both the numerator and denominator of the formula that was used? ANS4 h QSN5 Planck's work disproved what assumption? ANS5 that the energy of a body could take on any value whatsoever QSN6 What rule predicted narrow range of energy values at lower temperatures? ANS6 The Rayleigh–Jeans QSN7 Planck's law involved what necessary mathematical step to correctly predict blackbody emission? ANS7 multiply the classical expression by a complex factor that involves h in both the numerator and the denominator QSN8 Changing values of n, the Boltzmann constant, or other variables resulted in learning what about Planck's law? ANS8 Making an equation out of Planck's law that would reproduce the Rayleigh–Jeans law could not be done QSN9 The disparity between Planck's law and the Rayleigh-Jeans law led to what conclusion? ANS9 the picture given by classical physics is not duplicated by a range of results in the quantum picture