Wien Peak Wavelength Calculator Formula

Understand the math behind the wien peak wavelength calculator. Each variable explained with a worked example.

Use the Wien Peak Wavelength Calculator

Formulas Used

Peak Wavelength

wavelength_m = 2.8978e-3 / temperature

Peak Wavelength (nm)

wavelength_nm = 2.8978e-3 / temperature * 1e9

Peak Wavelength (µm)

wavelength_um = 2.8978e-3 / temperature * 1e6

Variables

VariableDescriptionDefault
temperatureTemperature(K)5778

How It Works

Wien's Displacement Law

lambda_max = b / T

where b = 2.8978 × 10⁻³ m·K (Wien's displacement constant).

Hotter objects peak at shorter wavelengths. The Sun (5778 K) peaks at about 502 nm (green-yellow visible light). A human body (310 K) peaks at about 9.35 µm (infrared).

Worked Example

The Sun at T = 5778 K.

temperature = 5778
  1. 01lambda_max = 2.8978e-3 / 5778
  2. 02= 5.016e-7 m = 501.6 nm
  3. 03This is in the green part of the visible spectrum.

Ready to run the numbers?

Open Wien Peak Wavelength Calculator