Astronomers are often very interested in the temperatures of stars (including the Sun) because that gives a clue to the star’s size, composition, and age. The maximum intensity of solar radiation occurs at 490. nm. What is the temperature of the surface of the Sun?

ANTICIPATE You should be aware that objects glowing white hot are at temperatures of several thousand degrees.

PLAN Use Wien’s law in the form T = constant/λ_max.