INFRARED ENERGY Meaning and
Definition
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Infrared energy refers to a type of radiant energy characterized by electromagnetic waves with longer wavelengths than those of visible light. It falls within the electromagnetic spectrum between microwaves and visible light, with wavelengths typically ranging from about 700 nanometers (nm) to 1 millimeter (mm).
Infrared energy is emitted by any object that has a temperature above absolute zero, including the human body, the Sun, and various artificial sources like heaters or electronic devices. It is based on the principle that all objects emit heat as a form of energy.
The human eye cannot directly perceive infrared energy, as its wavelengths are beyond the range of visible light. However, specialized devices and sensors can detect, measure, and convert these infrared wavelengths into images or temperature readings. Such technologies are commonly used in industries like thermal imaging, healthcare, and night vision equipment.
Infrared energy has several applications and benefits. For instance, it enables remote temperature measurements without contact, assists in identifying heat sources or anomalies in electrical systems, aids in surveillance and security through night vision devices, and finds usage in medical imaging for diagnostics. Infrared energy is also utilized for communication purposes by remote controls, certain wireless devices, and fiber optic networks.
Overall, infrared energy plays a crucial role in various fields, offering a valuable tool for detecting, monitoring, and understanding the thermal properties of objects and environments.
Common Misspellings for INFRARED ENERGY
- unfrared energy
- jnfrared energy
- knfrared energy
- onfrared energy
- 9nfrared energy
- 8nfrared energy
- ibfrared energy
- imfrared energy
- ijfrared energy
- ihfrared energy
- indrared energy
- incrared energy
- invrared energy
- ingrared energy
- intrared energy
- inrrared energy
- infeared energy
- infdared energy
- inffared energy
- inftared energy
Etymology of INFRARED ENERGY
The word "infrared" is composed of two parts: "infra" and "red". The prefix "infra-" comes from Latin and means "below" or "under". In this case, it refers to the fact that infrared radiation has a longer wavelength than visible light, which is higher on the electromagnetic spectrum. The term "red" refers to the red color, as infrared radiation was discovered by William Herschel in 1800 while studying the temperature difference between different colors of light. He used a prism to split sunlight into its component colors and found that the region beyond the red light had the highest temperature. Therefore, the word "infrared energy" describes the energy carried by electromagnetic waves with longer wavelengths than visible light, which is often perceived as heat.
