Thermal radiation
(Redirected from Radiant heat)
Thermal radiation is a type of electromagnetic radiation that is emitted by an object due to its temperature. It is a fundamental process by which energy is transported in the universe.
Overview[edit | edit source]
Thermal radiation is generated when heat from the movement of charged particles within atoms is converted to electromagnetic radiation. The emitted wave frequency of thermal radiation is a probability distribution that is determined by the temperature of the emitting object, with the peak frequency increasing with temperature. This relationship is described by Planck's law.
Mechanism[edit | edit source]
The mechanism of thermal radiation is fundamentally quantum mechanical in nature. When a particle moves in the presence of an electromagnetic field, it can absorb or emit radiation. The energy of the emitted or absorbed radiation is quantized, meaning it can only occur in discrete amounts, which are proportional to the frequency of the radiation. This is described by the Planck-Einstein relation.
Properties[edit | edit source]
Thermal radiation has several important properties. It does not require any medium to propagate, meaning it can travel through the vacuum of space. This is how the Sun's energy reaches Earth. The intensity and frequency distribution of thermal radiation depends solely on the temperature of the emitting body. This property allows for the temperature of distant objects in space to be determined through spectral analysis.
Applications[edit | edit source]
Thermal radiation has many practical applications. It is used in thermal imaging, where cameras detect the thermal radiation emitted by objects and use this information to create an image. It is also used in thermography, where thermal radiation is used to detect heat leaks in buildings and machines, and in pyrometry, for measuring high temperatures.
See also[edit | edit source]
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD