infrapunasäteilylämpömittareina

Infrapunasäteily, often shortened to IR radiation, is a type of electromagnetic radiation that lies beyond the visible light spectrum. It has a wavelength longer than visible light and shorter than microwaves. The term "infrared" literally means "below red," as red is the color with the longest wavelength in the visible spectrum.

Infrared radiation is primarily associated with heat. All objects with a temperature above absolute zero emit infrared radiation. The warmer an object is, the more intensely it emits IR radiation and at shorter wavelengths. This is why thermal imaging cameras can detect heat signatures and create images based on temperature differences.

Naturally, the sun is a significant source of infrared radiation reaching Earth. Artificial sources include incandescent light bulbs, heat lamps, and remote controls. In technology, infrared is used in a wide array of applications, including remote controls for televisions and other devices, thermal imaging for medical diagnostics and industrial inspections, night vision equipment, and optical fiber communication. It also plays a role in scientific research, such as spectroscopy, to identify and study materials. The human body also emits infrared radiation, which is why it can be detected by thermal sensors.