Question

a blackbody radiator was expected to give off energy of increasing frequency as its temperature increased. which of the following ideas provided an important step toward understanding why this was not observed?
a. large objects can be viewed as acting as waves.
b. light is quantized and must be absorbed as a unit.
c. matter is quantized and cannot be broken down.
d. electrons can act as both waves and particles.

Explanation:

The ultraviolet - catastrophe problem with blackbody radiation was resolved by Planck's idea of quantization of light. Light is quantized and absorbed or emitted in discrete units (photons), which explains the non - observed behavior of energy emission with increasing frequency as temperature increases. Option A is about wave - like behavior of large objects not related to blackbody radiation issue. Option C about quantization of matter is not relevant here. Option D about electron's wave - particle duality is not the key to understanding blackbody radiation.

Answer:

B. Light is quantized and must be absorbed as a unit.