IB Physics B.2 Greenhouse Effect Key Definitions

A black body is an idealized object that absorbs all radiation falling on it and emits radiation based on its temperature.

Emissivity ($e$) measures how efficiently a surface radiates energy compared to an ideal black body.

A photon is a tiny particle that comprises waves of electromagnetic radiation.

Resonance occurs when the frequency of incoming infrared radiation matches the natural frequency of a molecule’s vibrational or rotational modes.

The solar constant ($S$) is the average intensity of solar radiation received at the top of Earth’s atmosphere, measured perpendicular to the incoming rays.