Please explain with thorough examples and details. THANKS!!!
2007-01-12 05:10:59 · 4 answers · asked by nightowl 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Sheepishbiribiri's answer is very good, though it may be a bit too technical.
More simply stated, infrared radiation is closely akin to heat. If you stand close to a bonfire, the heat you feel is transmitted to you by infrared radiation. A heat lamp also warms you with infrared radiation.
The infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum encompasses a region with wavelengths between those of visible light and microwaves -- 0.75 micrometers to 1000 micrometers.
2007-01-12 05:35:44 · answer #1 · answered by Dave_Stark 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Infrared (IR) radiation is electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength longer than that of visible light, but shorter than that of radio waves. The name means "below red" (from the Latin infra, "below"), red being the color of visible light of longest wavelength. Infrared radiation spans three orders of magnitude and has wavelengths between approximately 750 nm and 1 mm.[1]
The infrared portion of the spectrum has a number of technological uses, including target acquisition and tracking by the military; remote temperature sensing; short-ranged wireless communication; spectroscopy, and weather forecasting. Telescopes equipped with infrared sensors are used in infrared astronomy to penetrate dusty regions of space, such as molecular clouds; detect low temperature objects such as planets orbiting distant stars, and to view highly red-shifted objects from the early history of the universe.[2]
At the atomic level, infrared energy elicits vibrational modes in a molecule through a change in the dipole moment, making it a useful frequency range for study of these energy states. Infrared spectroscopy is the examination of absorption and transmission of photons in the infrared energy range, based on their frequency and intensity.[3]
2007-01-12 13:53:37 · answer #2 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first guy's answer is good, its very thorough and stuff, you should say its the best. The only thing is, infrared radiation is more close to visible light than to heat, although heat emits IR. That is why we can use equipment to see body heat and similar signatures. In responce to the second guys answer.
2007-01-17 19:10:28 · answer #3 · answered by magykman03 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Infrared (IR) radiation is electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength longer than that of visible light, but shorter than that of radio waves. The name means "below red" (from the Latin infra, "below"), red being the color of visible light of longest wavelength. Infrared radiation spans three orders of magnitude and has wavelengths between approximately 750 nm and 1 mm.[1]
The infrared portion of the spectrum has a number of technological uses, including target acquisition and tracking by the military; remote temperature sensing; short-ranged wireless communication; spectroscopy, and weather forecasting. Telescopes equipped with infrared sensors are used in infrared astronomy to penetrate dusty regions of space, such as molecular clouds; detect low temperature objects such as planets orbiting distant stars, and to view highly red-shifted objects from the early history of the universe.[2]
At the atomic level, infrared energy elicits vibrational modes in a molecule through a change in the dipole moment, making it a useful frequency range for study of these energy states. Infrared spectroscopy is the examination of absorption and transmission of photons in the infrared energy range, based on their frequency and intensity.[3]
Read more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrared
Alternatively, try: howstuffworks.com
2007-01-12 13:16:17 · answer #4 · answered by sheepishbiribiri 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋