Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The ultraviolet catastrophe was the prediction that infinite energy would be radiated at shorter wavelengths by a black body according to classical physics - which contradicts experimental results.
Related terms
Planck's Law: This law resolved the ultraviolet catastrophe by stating that energy is quantized and can only be emitted or absorbed in discrete amounts called quanta.
Quantum Mechanics: This branch of physics explains the nature and behavior of matter and energy at the quantum (atomic and subatomic) level, which includes explaining phenomena like the ultraviolet catastrophe.
Rayleigh-Jeans Law: This law describes how the intensity of electromagnetic radiation (like light waves) should change with its frequency according to classical physics. It leads to an incorrect prediction known as the ultraviolet catastrophe.