RADIATION + CONDUCTION

Problem: A solid body X of heat capacity C is kept in an open atmosphere whose temperature
is constant at TA = 300 K. At the time t = 0, the temperature of X is T0 = 400 K. It cools
according to Newton’s law of cooling. At the time t1 its temperature is found to be 350 K. At
this time (t1) the body X is connected to a large body Y through a conducting rod of length L,
cross-sectional area A and thermal conductivity K. The temperature of the body Y is also TA
and its heat capacity is so large that any variation in its temperature may be neglected. The
cross-sectional area A of the connecting rod is very small compared to the surface area of X.
Find the temperature of X at the time t = 3t1.

Sol.: For the time interval t = 0 to t = t1, the body X cools as per Newton’s law of cooing.
Therefore, its rate of change of temperature is given by

dT
= −k1(T − 300) , where k1 is a constant.
dt

350 1 t
dT
  T − 300 0 k1dt
400
= −

ln2
 k1 =
t1

When the body X is connected to the body Y, it loses heat to the atmosphere as per Newton,s
law of cooling and to the body Y through conduction. Now the rate of change of temperature
of the body X is given by

dT KA(T − 300)
= −k1(T − 300) − ,
dt CL

dT  k CL + KA 
 = − 1  dt
(T − 300)  CL 

 k1CL + KA 
T 3t
1
dT
 350 (T − 300) t  CL  dt
= −
1

 T − 300  k CL + KA
 ln   =− 1 . 2t1
 50  CL

 k CL +KA 
− 1  . 2t1
Or T = 300 + 50e  CL 

KA
− . 2t1
Or T = 300 + 50  e−2k t  e 11 CL

KA
− . 2t1
Or T = 300 + 50  e−2ln2  e CL
   2KAt1 
−  
Or T =  300 + 12.5e CL 
 K.
 
 

Example: A metal piece is heated and a sensor is kept above the metal piece to measure the
power (P) radiated by the metal piece. Instead of displaying the direct radiant power,
P
the sensor displays log 2   , where P0 is a constant. When the temperature of the
 P0 
surface of the metal piece is 487 0C , the sensor shows a value 1. Assume that the
emissivity of the metallic surface remains constant. Find the value displayed by the
sensor when the temperature of the metal surface increases to 2767 °C.
(2016)
Sol: Power radiated P = eAT 4
At 487°C; P1 = eA ( 760 ) ...(i)
4

P1
Given, log2 =1
p0
P1 eA ( 760 )
4
 P0 = = ……….
2 2
At 2767°C; P2 = eA ( 3040 )
4

P   eA ( 3040 )4  2 
 Reading = log2  2  = log2  ( )
 = log2 44  2 = 9
 eA ( 760 )
 0
P  4



Example: An electric heater inside a spherical body generates heat at the constant rate. When
steady state is reached, surface temperature of the sphere is found to be T0 and its radiant
power is P. Now the sphere is enveloped within a spherical layer of negligible thickness.
The emissivity of the layer is 0.0016. Find the steady state temperature of both, the
spherical layer and the surface of the inner sphere.

Sol:  AT04 = P
Let T0 ' be the temperature of the sphere’s surface and T be the temperature of the outer layer
in the steady state condition. Since outer layer has two surfaces, however, half of the
total radiant power of the outer goes outside and half goes to the sphere inside it.
Moreover, in steady state, the net power going to the outside space is P and net radiant
power of the spherical body is also P, this is because all surfaces are at constant
temperature.

1
 e (2 A)T 4 = P =  AT04
2
 T = 5T0

1
Also,  AT0'4 − e (2 A)T 4 = P
2

 AT0'4 = 2P = 2 AT04
 1
 T0 ' = 2 T0 4

Example: Two geometrically identical bodies A and B have thermal emissivity of  A = 0.01
and  B = 0.81 respectively. Both bodies are observed to have same radiant power. The
surface temperature of the body A is 5802K. However, B; the wavelength
corresponding to maximum spectral radiancy in the radiation from B is more than A ;
the wavelength corresponding to maximum spectral radiancy in the radiation from A
by 1.00 m. Find
(a) the surface temperature of B (b) wavelength B.

Sol : (a) eA AATA4 = eB ABTB4

 0.01( 5802 ) = 0.81TB4

4

 TB = 1934K

(b) from Wien’s law

A TA = BTB

B TA 5802
 = = =3
A TB 1934

 A = B
3

Also, B - A = 1 m

B
 B − = 1 m
3

 B = 1.5 m

Example: Two spherical stars A and B emit as a blackbody. The radius of A is 400 times that
of B and the total radiant power of A is 104 times the total radiant power of B. The
A
quantity is the ratio of the wavelengths at which peaks occur in their respective
B

radiation curves. Find A .
B

 dQ  4  dQ 
Sol:  dt  = 10  dt 
 A  B
  (400R)2 TA4 = 104 (R2 TB4 )

 2TA = TB

 A TA = B TB
 A TB
 = =2
B TA

Example: A spherical body A of radius 6 cm has surface temperature TA and another spherical
body B of radius 18 cm has surface temperature TB. Both bodies radiate like a black
body. In the emission spectra of A, the maximum intensity is at the wavelength of 500
nm whereas, in the emission spectra of B, the maximum intensity is observed at the
wavelength 1500 nm. Find the ratio of the total emissive power of A to that of B.

Sol: maxT = constant

 ATA = BTB
T 
 A = B = 3 ………
TB A

Since the total radiant power of a spherical body of radius R is given by

P = E ( 4 R 2 ) 4 , where E is the emissive power of the body.

PA RA2TA4
 =
PB RB2TB4
P 1
 A =  81 = 9
PB 9

Example: The earth revolves around the sun nearly in a circular orbit of radius equal to 148
million kilometre. Radius of the sun is nearly equal to 0.70-million-kilometre and it radiates
energy like a perfectly black body. The intensity of the solar radiation on earth’s surface is
8.2J/cm-2-min. Estimate the temperature of sun’s outer surface.

Sol: The total radiant power of the sun is given by

P =  4 RS2TS4 , where RS is the radius of the sun and TS is the temperature of sun’s
surface.
Solar intensity on the earth surface is given by

P  RS2TS4
I= =
4 r 2 r2
2
8.2 104 W 17 −4  7  10  4
8
−8 −2
 =  10 Wm K   9 
TS ………
 148 10 
2
60 m 3
 TS4 = 1078 1012 K 4
  TS  5730K

Example: One end of a uniform rod of length L and thermal

conductivity K is connected to a furnace at temperature Insulation
T1. The other end of the rod is at temperature T2 (< T1)
and is exposed to atmosphere. The temperature of Furnace
atmosphere is Ts. The lateral part of the rod is insulated T1 A, K T2,  Ts
from surroundings. If T2 – Ts << Ts, T2 = Ts +  T &
T  (T1 – Ts), find proportionality constant of the
given equation. The heat loss to atmosphere is through (2004)
radiation only and the emissivity of the rod is .

Sol: Since in steady state condition, the conduction heat

current is equal to the radiant power of the surface
exposed to the atmosphere.

KA ( T1 − T2 )

L
(
= A T24 − Ts4 )
= A ( Ts + T ) − Ts4 
4
 
KA
 T1 − (TS + T) = 4ATs3 T
L
K ( T1 − TS )  K
 = T  4TS3 + 
L  L
K ( T1 − TS )
 T=
 K
L  4TS3 + 
 L
K
 Proportionality constant = .
 K
L  4TS3 + 
 L

Example: Hot oil is circulated through an insulated container T = 127

with a wooden lid at the top whose conductivity K = 0.149
W/m-C, thickness t = 5 mm, emissivity = 0.6.
Ta = 27C
Temperature of the top of the lid is maintained at T = T0
Hot Oil
127C. If the ambient temperature Ta = 27C, calculate
(i) the rate of heat loss per unit area due to radiation from (2003)
the lid.
 17
(ii) temperature of the oil. (Given  =  10−8 Wm−2K −4 )
3

Sol: (i)
dQ
dt
(
= A T 4 − Ta4 )
1 dQ 17
 = 0.6   10−8 ( 256 − 81)  108 W / m2
A dt 3

= 595 W / m2

T  dQ 
Iconduction = KA=
x  dt radiation
(ii)

x 1  dQ 
 T = 
K A  dt radiation

0.005
 Toil − 400K =  595K
0.149
0.005
 Toil = 400K +  595 K = 420K
0.149