Infrared rays part of the light spectrum?

Question

Hi there
Is an infrared ray part of the light spectrum.
I checked on wikipedia, but the answer i got there is not entirely satisfying.
Thanks for your help!

Thanks everyone for your answers! The questions was originally a bet and we now decided to call it a draw! ;-)
Thanks again.

Answer 1

Infra-red radiation is electromagnetic radiation, just like light. However, it has a longer wavelength than is visible to the human eye and as such it is not within the spectrum of visible light.

Cheers.

Answer 2

Yes it is as others have mentioned though at least one got the order wrong. The electromagnetic spectrum going from longer wavelengths to shorted goes Radiowaves > Microwaves > Infrared > Visible light (red-violet) > Ultraviolet > X-rays > Gamma rays.

They're all composed of photons. As someone else said there are no clear divides between them - the distinctions are human labels - nothing more - to make the point, consider that various animals have different boundaries on what light is visible to them - many birds and insects can see quite well in to the ultraviolet and have coats and markings that show up under a blacklight.

Answer 3

Normally when we use the term "light," we are referring to a type of electromagnetic wave which stimulates the retina of our eyes. In this sense, we are referring to visible light, a small spectrum of the enormous range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation.
This visible light region consists of a spectrum of wavelengths, which range from approximately 700 nanometers (abbreviated nm) to approximately 400 nm; that would be 7 x 10-7 meter to 4 x 10-7 meter. This narrow band of visible light is affectionately known as ROYGBIV.

The subdividing of the entire spectrum into smaller spectra is done mostly on the basis of how each region of electromagnetic waves interacts with matter.

There is no sharp line of division of each smaller spectrum.

Because of this nature,
The infra red and ultra violet spectrum including the visible light spectrum can be thought of light spectrum. A sub group is the visible light spectrum.

My personal opinion is that the entire E.M spectrum can be thought as light spectrum as noting will lose if we do think so.

Answer 4

Yes

http://www.brocku.ca/earthsciences/people/gfinn/optical/spectrum.gif

Answer 5

Infrared is an electromagnetic radiation that we can't see, so if you define the light as something you can see, then it's not light. We sense it as heat. It has a longer wavelength than a visible light.

Answer 6

Yes, infrared is the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum just 'below' (longer wavelength) the red portion of the visible spectrum.


Doug

Answer 7

Yes. Part of the electro magnetic spectrum, which spans from gamma rays and xrays with short wavelengths, through visable light of intermediate wavelength, and to radio waves with the longest wavelengths. The order of them is:

Gamma, x-ray, ultra violet, visable light, infra red, microwaves, radiowaves.

Answer 8

infra red have wavelength higher than 800nm. They are absorbed easily by water. After absorption their energy is converted to heat and rises the temperature of water We can distinguish the infrared wave lengths from 800nm to 10µm which are absorbed by vibrations intramolecular and can be used to measure force and distances between atoms. Infrared of wavelength higher than50*m are used to test the motions of rotation of molecules

Answer 9

Infrared is part of the electromagnetic spectrum, it comes after ultraviolet and visible light. I guess you can say its part of light spectrum although light is part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

I hope this helps, although you've got good answers already.

Answer 10

yes it is part of the light spectrum.
although the human eye cannot see it.
TRY THIS: if you have a camera on your moblie phone point a remote control at the lens of your camera and press a button. You will see a constant emitting light from the transmitter on the remote control. This is infra-red