What is the Difference Between Black Body and Grey Body?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between a black body and a grey body lies in their absorption and emission properties of electromagnetic radiation.
A black body is an idealized physical body that absorbs all incident electromagnetic radiation, regardless of frequency or angle of incidence. It emits radiation in every possible frequency that a body at the same temperature can emit. A black body in thermal equilibrium has an emissivity (ε) of 1.
A grey body, on the other hand, is a non-ideal physical body that absorbs some of the incident radiation. It emits radiation at each wavelength in a constant ratio, which is less than the emissivity of a black body. The surface absorptivity of a grey body is independent of the incident light wavelength and temperature conditions, and it varies between 0 and 1. Grey bodies also have definite reflective and transmitting powers depending on the nature of the substance.
In summary, a black body is an ideal physical body that absorbs all incident electromagnetic radiation and emits radiation at every possible frequency, while a grey body is a non-ideal physical body that absorbs some of the incident radiation and emits radiation at a constant ratio less than that of a black body.
Comparative Table: Black Body vs Grey Body
The main difference between a black body and a grey body lies in their ability to absorb, emit, and reflect electromagnetic radiation. Here is a comparison table highlighting the differences between the two:
| Property | Black Body | Grey Body |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | An idealized physical body that absorbs all incident electromagnetic radiation | A non-ideal physical body that partially absorbs and partially reflects or transmits electromagnetic radiation |
| Absorption | Absorbs all incident electromagnetic radiation | Absorbs some of the incident radiation |
| Emission | Emits radiation in every possible frequency that a body at the same temperature | Emits some of the absorbed radiation |
| Reflection | Does not reflect any light | May reflect some light |
| Emissivity | Has an emissivity (ε) equal to 1 | Has an emissivity (ε) between 0 and 1 |
Both black bodies and grey bodies absorb incoming radiation and emit thermal radiation based on their temperatures. However, a black body is an idealized concept that absorbs all incident electromagnetic radiation, regardless of frequency or angle of incidence, while a grey body is a real-world object that partially absorbs and partially reflects or transmits electromagnetic radiation.
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