Emissivity

Worked example E1: emitted power and intensity

A surface has emissivity 0.75, emitting area 0.80⁢m2, and temperature 320⁢K. Calculate its emitted power and emitted intensity. Treat its emissivity as constant.

Reveal the emitted power

The temperature and the surface property determine the power per unit area; multiply by the emitting area:

P=e⁢σ⁢A⁢T4=0.75⁢(5.67×10-8)⁢(0.80)⁢(320)4

P=3.57×102⁢W.

This is the outgoing emission. We have not yet calculated absorption from the surroundings.

Reveal the emitted intensity

Divide by the same emitting area:

Iemitted=P/A=356.7/0.80

Iemitted=4.46×102 W m−2.