Black Bodies and Radiation

A blackbody is an object that absorbs ALL incoming radiation, while a whitebody is an object that reflects all radiation.
Most objects fall somewhere in between these two.
The amount of radiation an object, such as a planet, emits is a direct function of its temperature. Watch the video and then explore more about the temperature of planets.

All objects can emit and absorb electromagnetic radiation. A blackbody is an object that absorbs radiation and then emits radiation back out. When a blackbody is in equilibrium, it absorbs the same amount of energy as it emits. Planets can act as blackbodies, absorbing radiation from the Sun and then emitting it back out into space.