It arose from the combination of the statement that all modes of a system at equilibrium have an average energy of kT/2, suggested by the equipartition theorem, with the predictions of the Rayleigh-Jeans law. This suggested there was no peak waveleng
It arose from the combination of the statement that all modes of a system at equilibrium have an average energy of kT/2, suggested by the equipartition theorem, with the predictions of the Rayleigh-Jeans law. This suggested there was no peak wavelength on the associated intensity-wavelength curve according to classical mechanics, but Planck's introduction of quantized energies resolved this paradox. For 10 points, identify this prediction of classical mechanics asserting that an ideal black-body could emit infinite energy at sufficiently short wavelengths, which give this phenomenon its name.
It arose from the combination of the statement that all modes of a system at equilibrium have an average energy of kT/2, suggested by the equipartition theorem, with the predictions of the Rayleigh-Jeans law.
{ultraviolet catastrophe} [prompt on {Rayleigh}-{Jeans catastrophe}]