Free worksheet and solutions · AQA GCSE · 8463
AQA GCSE Physics Black Body Radiation and Earth Temperature Worksheet
AQA GCSE Separate Physics black-body worksheet with answers. Interpret emission spectra, evaluate temperature evidence and follow the correct tier pathway.
What is covered
Questions and skills covered
The worksheet contains 8 pages of printable questions. A separate 8-page solutions PDF makes it easy to mark, review or share answers after the activity.
- All objects emit radiation, without visible glow
- Perfect black body absorbs all incident radiation and is an ideal emitter
- Match actual temperature, area and detector geometry for emission comparisons
- Qualitative spectra: hotter peak shorter and higher; broad range not one wavelength
- Fixed-wavelength intensity comparison and limits of an unscaled graph
- Repeated corrected IR signals, means and ratios without inferring temperature ratios
- Unknown surface properties invalidate transferred temperature calibrations
- A shield changes detected radiation, not necessarily source emission
- Foundation: matched-sample temperature ordering and limits of photograph/signal evidence
- Foundation: repeats, variable selection and original six-mark-style one-plate temperature method
- Higher: incident minus reflected sunlight gives absorbed rate at stated system boundary
- Higher: warm/cool/steady from absorbed versus emitted rates; equilibrium has continuing transfers
- Higher: surface atmospheric return is internal, not extra solar input
- Higher: absorption followed by atmospheric infrared emission in both directions
- Higher: initial imbalance, increasing emission and higher-temperature steady state with unchanged sunlight
About this activity
Distinguish detector signal from temperature, ideal absorption from appearance, and continued radiation transfers from net energy change.
Before you start
After teaching4.6.3 emission/absorption and qualitative distributions; Higher also after rate balance and Earth/atmosphere temperature. Basic means, ratios and rate subtraction only; no A-level radiation law.
A question from the worksheet
Question6(c), Higher replacement, pupil page6
Model R reaches constant temperature with incoming320W/m² and reflected60W/m². What outgoing thermal rate is needed?
Show the answer
260W/m², equal to absorbed sunlight320−60. Absorption/emission continue; only their net rate is zero.
Common error: Balancing emitted thermal radiation against all320W/m² of incident sunlight, or claiming equilibrium stops transfers.
Revise the physics
Specification fit
AQA GCSE Physics Worksheets
8463 · 4.6.3.1, 4.6.3.2
- 8463: 4.6.3.1, 4.6.3.2
Choose the correct pathway: Separate Physics 8463 only. Common Sections 1–3, then Foundation Sections 4–5 OR Higher Sections 6–7. Earth rate-balance and atmosphere tasks are in the Higher replacement.
Classroom use
Use the worksheet for class practice, homework, intervention, cover work or revision. Keep the PhysicsUK attribution intact when sharing copies with pupils.