Infrared Radiation (Oxford AQA IGCSE Physics)

Revision Note

Infrared Radiation

  • All objects emit and absorb infrared radiation

  • The hotter an object is, the more infrared radiation it radiates in a given time

  • The colour of an object, and whether its surface is matt or shiny, affects how good it is at emitting and absorbing infrared radiation

    • Dark, matt surfaces are good absorbers and good emitters of infrared radiation

    • Light, shiny surfaces are poor absorbers and poor emitters of infrared radiation

    • Light, shiny surfaces are good reflectors of infrared radiation

Emission and absorption of infrared radiation

Demonstrating radiation, for IGCSE & GCSE Physics revision notes
An image of a hot object taken in both Infrared and visible light. The black surface emits more thermal radiation (infrared) than the shiny surface
  • Black cars get much hotter than white cars in the summer because black objects are good absorbers of infrared radiation

  • However, a black car will cool down much faster than a white car at the same temperature because black objects are also good emitters of infrared radiation

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