Question

Normal human body of the temperature is 98.6°F. During high fever, if the temperature increases to 104°F, what is the change in peak wavelength that emitted by our body? (Assume human body is a black body)

Answer 1

Normal human body temperature (T) = 98.6°F

Convert Fahrenheit into Kelvin,

`("F" - 32)/180 = ("K" - 273)/100`

So, T = 98.6°F = 310 K

From Wien’s displacement law

Maximum wavelength, λ_max = `"b"/"T"`

= `(2.898 xx 10^-3)/310`

= 9348 × 10⁻⁹ m

λ_max = 9348 nm (at 98.6°F)

During high fever, human body temperature, T = 104°F = 313 K

Peak wavelength, λ_max = `"b"/"T"`

= `(2.898 xx 10^-3)/313`

= 9259 × 10⁻⁹ m

λ_max = 9259 nm (at 104°F)