Modern Physics > Quantum Effects > Blackbody Radiation DCS# 6B40.30
RED HOT PLATINUM
cold ovenhot oven
APPARATUS
muffle oven 013B
platinum dish 013B
YBCO pellet 013B
firebricks
 202-04-E
crucible tongs
 214-01-D6
pottery shards
 202-11-B

DESCRIPTION
The YBCO pellet and platinum dish are placed in the oven and heated to about 900° C.  The oven door is opened to show that everything -- dish, pellet, and the walls of the oven -- is glowing bright orange, demonstrating that the color of the radiation depends only on the temperature not on the nature of the materials.

For more colorful materials, use the high-temperature ceramic pottery shards donated by the pottery co-op, shown below.