Is heat a product of light? Or does there have to be heat first, then light?

Question

Just a question that my dad and i were trying to work out. So it would be nice if someone could help us answer it.

Thanks!

Answer 1

It can work both ways.
When sunlight is absorbed by a material it is converted to heat.
When metal is heated it can emit light.
They are two forms of energy which can be converted from one to the other.

Answer 2

Heat is the emission of infra-red radiation, and therefore is also "light" as in an electromagnetic wave. Heat is light but not all light is heat. Light is often associated with heat because the excitation of atoms from higher energy states to lower ones result in emitting photons across a broad range of energy (or specifically, "quanta") from infra red to possibly UV. So, if something was glowing blue and is not feeling warm, you might want to step away from it ;)

It is possible to have something provide only infra red energy, feel warm, and not have any light. It is also possible for something to be bright, but not provide heat. Neither is a product of the other, they are both products from the same mechanisms.

Hope that helps

Answer 3

Radiative heat is just infra-red light, so one is not a product of the other, they are the same thing. Conductive heat is vibrating molecules, the vibrations can be caused by absorbing incident energy, such as infra-red light; in this case the heat is caused by the light. If something is very hot it will emit infra-red radiation but often other parts of the light spectrum also; in this case the light is caused by the heat.

Both heat and light are forms of energy. Energy is a constant in the universe, it cannot be created only changed from one form to the other, so heat can be converted to light, and vice versa.

Answer 4

Technically one isn't a product of the other because they are both forms of energy.

Light bulb - electrical energy is converted to heat and light. The heat passes energy onto the electrons in the atoms of the filament. They are promoted and enter an excited state, when they return back to their original ground state this extra energy is released as visible light.

I suppose you can say the heat caused light to be emitted by the excitaton of electrons, but it doesn't always have to be heat, an accelerated electron can release energy as light without involving heat.

So in answer to your question heat usually provides substances the energy to emit light but not in every case. In addition the reverse process (photoelectric effect) can also occur.

Answer 5

heat is a form of energy and light is a form of energy. They can be converted to each other. Light is a more efficient form of energy, but to convert it to heat, it has to interact with some matter (like a metal plate). It wouldn't convert to heat in vacuum.
On the other hand, if you manage to heat a metal plate to a certain temperature, it will start producing light as well (when it is melting, or in a light bulb). So...

Does it answer your question?

Answer 6

Light is always first. Heat is simply one effect of light.

Answer 7

heat is a product of light

Answer 8

I've just consulted the all-knowing reference and apparently:

1:1 - In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
1:2 - And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.
And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
1:3 - And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

I think heat came first because if it didn't the waters referenced in 1:2 would be ice.
God must have one of those voice-activated light switches with a dimmer option for night-time.