What is the Ultraviolet Catastrophe?

Explore the intriguing concept of the ultraviolet catastrophe and its resolution in this 40-minute video from Physics Explained. Delve into the detailed explanations of Rayleigh and Jeans' work, followed by an in-depth discussion of Max Planck's groundbreaking quantum hypothesis. Learn about blackbody radiation, the Jeans Cube, and Ernst Pringsheim's experimental results. Discover the known laws of physics at the time, wave descriptions, and the concept of stationary waves. Investigate the frequency density, allowed frequencies in 3D, and the density of states. Understand the equipartition of energy, the Boltzmann Distribution, and how these concepts apply to waves. Follow the journey from the initial problem to Planck's revolutionary solution, witnessing the birth of quantum physics. Reflect on the implications of this pivotal moment in scientific history.

Intro
How do hot objects emit light?
What is a blackbody?
Blackbody Absorption
The Jeans Cube
Ernst Pringsheim
Experimental Results
What were the known laws of physics?
Describing Waves
Adding Waves
Stationary Waves inside the cube
Applying the boundary conditions
What is the frequency density?
What are the allowed frequencies in 3d?
What is the density of states?
The equipartition of energy
So, how does this work for waves?
The Boltzmann Distribution
Putting it all together
In terms of wavelength...
What does this look like?
Enter Planck...
Energy is quantized...
What does this mean?
Comparing with experiment
The birth of quantum physics
Reflections