IRsäteilyä

IRsäteilyä, also known as infrared radiation, is a type of electromagnetic radiation that falls within the electromagnetic spectrum between visible light and microwaves. It is invisible to the human eye. The wavelength of infrared radiation ranges from about 700 nanometers to 1 millimeter. Sources of infrared radiation include the sun, heat lamps, and all objects with a temperature above absolute zero.

When infrared radiation interacts with matter, it can be absorbed, reflected, or transmitted. Absorption of infrared radiation typically leads to an increase in the temperature of the object. This is why we feel warmth from the sun or a heat lamp. Infrared radiation plays a significant role in various natural phenomena and technological applications. For example, it is crucial for regulating Earth's temperature through the greenhouse effect.

In technology, infrared radiation is used in remote controls for televisions and other electronic devices, thermal imaging cameras for night vision and medical diagnostics, and in heating systems. Spectroscopy utilizing infrared radiation is a powerful analytical tool in chemistry and physics for identifying substances based on their unique absorption patterns. The human body also emits infrared radiation, which is why thermal cameras can detect people in complete darkness.