What is Ultraviolet catastrophe?
The '''ultraviolet catastrophe''' is the name given to a conflict between [[theory]] and the [[observation]] in [[classical physics]]. An ideal [[Blackbody radiation|blackbody]] at [[thermal equilibrium]] emits [[radiation]] in all [[frequency]] ranges. It emits more energy as the frequency increases. By calculating the total amount of radiated energy, it can be shown that a blackbody would release an infinite amount of energy. This contradicted the principles of [[conservation of energy]] and showed a new model was needed for the behaviour of blackbodies. This happened around the end of the nineteenth century. It was one of the things that led to the invention of [[quantum mechanics]]. Theorists like [[Max Planck]] solved the problem with the [[quantum theory]] in which energy leaves the body in distinct packets called quanta rather than in continuous waves. The quantum theory accurately predicted the energy of the radiation that is observed. [[Category:Physics]] {{physics-stub}}