The ultraviolet catastrophe challenged classical physics and led to the development of quantum theory by Max Planck, revolutionizing scientists' understanding of light.
The ultraviolet catastrophe was a phenomenon in classical electromagnetism predicting that the intensity of radiation emitted by a black body at thermal equilibrium would reach infinity as the wavelength decreases. This problem was resolved by Max Planck introducing the revolutionary concept of quantization, leading to the development of quantum theory.
The catastrophic prediction of infinite radiation intensity in the ultraviolet range challenged scientists' understanding of light and highlighted the limitations of classical physics. Planck's proposal of energy quantization paved the way for a new era in physics, shifting from classical to quantum mechanics.
By considering temperature-dependent factors, Planck successfully explained the observed blackbody radiation spectrum and resolved the ultraviolet catastrophe, demonstrating the importance of quantum principles in understanding the behavior of light.
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