Experiment No.

- 4

STEFAN’S LAW

OBJECTIVE: To verify Stefan’s law by electrical method.

APPARATUS USED:
6V battery, D.C. Voltmeter, D.C. ammeter, Electric bulb (having tungsten filament) of
6V, 6W, Rheostat (100 ohm).

FORMULA USED:
4
P = CT
Log10P = σLog10T + Log10C

Where, P = Total power emitted by a body at temperature T,

σ = power of T close to 4
T = temperature of a body
C = some constant depending on the material and area of such a body.

THEORY:
For black bodies, Stefan’s law is
4 4
E = α(T -T0 ),
Where E is the net amount of radiation emitted per second per unit area by a body at
temperature T and surrounded by another body at temperature T 0. σ is called Stefan’s
constant. A similar relation can also hold for bodies that are not black. In such case, we
can write
σ σ
P = C(T -T0 ),
Where P is the total power emitted by a body at temperature T surrounded by another at
temperature T0. σ is a power quite closed to 4 and C is some constant depending on the
material and area of such a body. Further the relation can be expressed as
σ σ σ
P = CT (1-T0 / T ),
If T>> T0 (e.g., T = 1500K, and T0 ≈ 300K), we can write
σ
P = CT
Or Log10P = σLog10T + Log10C
The graph between Log10P and Log10T should be a straight line whose slope gives α.
Therefore, in order to verify Stefan’s law, we have to measure the following two
parameters:
(i) Power radiated P: We use tungsten bulb as the radiating body in this
experiment and in the steady state, the electrical power P = VI is radiated
(neglecting power loss in the leads and through the gas in the bulb).
(ii) Temperature of the radiating body, T: In experiment we need to measure the
temperature of tungsten filament. This is achieved by measuring the resistance
of filament, Rt and then using the relation
2
Rt = R0 (1+ αt + βt )
where coefficient α and β are known for tungsten. One serious limitation arises in the
measurement of R0 (resistance of filament at 0°C or 273K, one can write R 0 or R273).
 At very small current, V/I ratio will give filament resistance as well as lead resistance.
In order to calculate R0, we measure the resistance (Rg) at the stage when the filament
first starts glowing and temperature at this stage is approximately 800K. At this
temperature contribution of lead resistance becomes smaller by a factor of 4 as
compared with that at 273K. Therefore measurement of R g (=R800) and using the
computed factor, R800/R273, a more accurate value of R273(=R0) can be obtained.

V
Bulb

Circuit diagram of Stefan’s law (Figure 1)

PROCEDURE:
1. Make the connections as shown in the figure given above in the circuit diagram. In
order to connect voltmeter across the bulb, the two wires are soldered to the base points
of the bulb.
2. In order to find Rg, we have to record V and I for just glow condition of the bulb with
different increasing and decreasing values of current, we adjust such that the bulb glows
each time. Then, from the value of V and I, ratio V/I is found which gives R g. This is the
filament resistance at 800K. From Rt /R0 vs. T graph, we note that
Rt /R0 = R800/R273 = 3.9
Therefore R800/3.9 = R273
Or Rg/3.9 = R0
3. Now, filament current I is increased from a value below glow stage to a values high
enough to get dazzling white light, measuring voltage V across bulb every time. From
these V and I values, we deduce power P (=VI) and R t (=V/I). From Rt using the value Ro
(or Rg /3.9) or R273K , we deduce the temperature T of the filament and obtain a graph in
Log10P against Log10T.
 OBSERVATIONS:
Table 1: For Rg & R0

Current Increasing
S.No. Rg=V/I
Voltage V Current I
volts amp. Ohms
1.
2.
3.
Average value of Rg = Ω
Ro=Rg/3.9 = Ω

Table 2: Determination of Power P: for different temperature T

S.No. Pot. Current Rt=V/I Rt/Ro Temp. Temp. Log10T Power Log10P
Diff. I amp. Ohms from in K P = VI
V table 3 or Watt
volts from
graph
1. 1

2. 2

3. 3

4. 4

5. 5

6. 6

7. 7

8. 8

9. 9

10. 10

11. 11

12. 12
Table 3: For plotting Rt/Ro versus T graph
0
Rt/Ro
Temp. in O C
0 1.00
100 1.53
200 2.07
300 2.13
400 3.22
500 3.80
600 4.40
700 5.00
800 5.64
900 6.37
1000 6.94
1100 7.60
1200 8.26
1300 8.90
1400 9.70
1500 10.43

CALCULATIONS:
Slope = y2-y1/x2-x1= σ =
RESULT:
Plot the graph between log10P vs. log10T .
PRECAUTIONS:
1. Use the bulb having tungsten filament.
2. Increase the current in steps.
3. Note down the voltage reading after every change in current.
4. Choose the rheostat of appropriate range.
5. Connection should be tight.

Viva- Voce:
1. Define emissive power of a body?
2. What is radiation of heat?
3. What is the speed with which thermal radiation travel?
4. Can thermal radiation travel through vacuum?
5. Define absorptive power of a body?