Image for Thermal radiation

Thermal radiation

Thermal radiation is the energy emitted by objects in the form of infrared radiation due to their temperature. Everything with a temperature above absolute zero emits some level of thermal radiation; hotter objects emit more energy than cooler ones. This process doesn’t require a medium like air or water, allowing heat to travel through a vacuum, such as space. For example, the Sun warms the Earth through thermal radiation. We experience this heat when we stand near a fire or a warm surface, even though we may not see the radiation itself.

Additional Insights

  • Image for Thermal radiation

    Thermal radiation is the energy emitted by objects in the form of infrared radiation due to their temperature. All objects give off this radiation; hotter objects emit more energy than cooler ones. This is why we can feel heat from the sun or a fire even if we are not in direct contact. Unlike conduction or convection, thermal radiation can occur through the vacuum of space, which is how the Earth receives heat from the sun. The phenomenon is a key principle in understanding heat transfer and energy balance in the environment and various technologies.