infrapunasäteiltä

Infrapunasäteily, often shortened to IR, is a type of electromagnetic radiation. It falls within the electromagnetic spectrum between visible light and microwaves. The key characteristic of infrapunasäteily is its association with heat. All objects with a temperature above absolute zero emit infrapunasäteily. The intensity and wavelength distribution of this radiation depend directly on the object's temperature. Hotter objects emit more intense radiation and at shorter wavelengths.

Humans perceive infrapunasäteily as heat. We can feel the warmth from a fireplace, a hot stove, or even the sun on our skin, which is largely due to infrapunasäteily. This property makes it useful in various applications. For instance, thermal imaging cameras detect infrapunasäteily emitted by objects to create images that reveal temperature differences. This is used in fields like night vision, medical diagnostics, building insulation inspection, and search and rescue operations.

Infrapunasäteily also plays a role in communication. Remote controls for televisions and other electronic devices use short bursts of infrapunasäteily to transmit commands. Fiber optic communication systems, while primarily using visible light, can also utilize certain infrared wavelengths for data transmission over long distances. Its applications extend to industrial processes, such as drying and curing materials, and in scientific research for spectroscopy.