Final answer:
The blue blackbody is hotter than the red blackbody because hotter objects emit light at shorter wavelengths, and the color blue indicates a shorter wavelength than red.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a laboratory, two blackbodies are heated until one glows blue and the other shines red. Based on our understanding of blackbody radiation, the color at which a blackbody glows when heated is determined by its temperature. The fundamental principle here is that hotter objects emit light at shorter wavelengths, which equates to higher frequencies and energies. When observing a blue glow as opposed to a red glow, the blue color indicates a shorter wavelength which is indicative of a higher temperature. The red color, having a longer wavelength, suggests a lower temperature. Therefore, in the given scenario, the correct statement is D) The blue object is warmer than the red object. This is consistent with the phenomenon observed in nature, where blue stars are hotter than red stars, and even our practical observations with a stove burner that glows red at lower temperatures and would glow blue-white at extremely high temperatures. The color (or wavelength) of the light emitted by a blackbody is related to its temperature. As objects heat up, they emit light, and the color of that light changes with temperature. Generally, cooler objects emit longer-wavelength light, appearing red, while hotter objects emit shorter-wavelength light, appearing blue. In this scenario, the fact that one object is glowing blue indicates that it is at a higher temperature than the one glowing red. Therefore, the correct statement is that the blue object is warmer than the red object. Option D reflects this understanding.