Planck's radiation law

noun

Physics.

1. the law that energy associated with electromagnetic radiation, electromagnetic radiation, as light, is composed of discrete quanta of energy, each quantum equal to Planck's constant times the corresponding frequency of the radiation: the fundamental law of quantum mechanics.

2. the law giving the spectral distribution of radiation from a blackbody.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Planck's radiation law¹

First recorded in 1905–10; named after M. K. E. Planck

Example Sentences

In 1900, some six years of work had led Max Planck to the correct mathematical form of the frequency spectrum known as Planck’s Radiation Law.

From Salon

In 1924, Satyendra Nath Bose derived Planck’s Radiation Law in a manner completely free of classical mechanics artifacts.

From Salon

Ever since its introduction in 1900, Planck’s Radiation Law was known to be less than a full-fledged quantum theory.

From Salon

With his work in 1916–1917, Einstein had come closer than anyone to a full quantum derivation of Planck’s Radiation Law, but in the end, he had to make assumptions that caused him to fall short too.

From Salon