Discussion

It was stated in the lab instructions to consider the fact that surface materials
that are good radiation emitters are also the best radiation absorbers in increasing
order. The report asked to compare such a phenomenon to the actual results
obtained. It can be said with complete confidence that after comparing the results
that were obtained experimentally the previous phenomenon was proven to be true.
The emittance was highest with black surface compared to the polished surface
being the lowest. A conclusion can be drawn to state that darker surfaces absorb
and emit larger measurable volumes of radiation per amount of surface area than
lighter ones. This phenomenon also illustrates that the finish of a surface
contributes to radiation output as well with dull surfaces emitting more than smooth
shiny ones.
One must notice that as the power setting of the cube increases the thermal
resistance decreases. In the same regard as the power setting increases the
temperature increases.
The second part of the experiment provides an extra variable to the trial
which was to place window plane glass between the radiation sensor and the black
surface of the cube. The radiation sensor had a reading of -0.5mV. Compared to the
much larger values of the previous iterations it can be said that the window pane
effectively blocks thermal radiation.