Infrared

What is Infrared?

Infrared is a special kind of light that our eyes cannot see. It is a type of electromagnetic radiation, just like the light from the sun. Infrared light has longer waves than the red light we can see, but shorter waves than microwaves.

You might have felt infrared before without even knowing it! When you sit near a heater, you feel warmth. That warmth is often from infrared radiation. The sun also gives off lots of infrared, which helps warm the Earth.

How Was Infrared Discovered?

A clever astronomer named Sir William Herschel discovered infrared in 1800. He used a thermometer to feel the heat from sunlight that passed through a prism. He noticed that the area just beyond the red light was even warmer. This warmth came from invisible light, which we now call infrared.

Why is Infrared Important?

Infrared has many helpful uses. Special cameras can see heat, which helps firefighters find people in dark buildings. It is also used in night-vision goggles, so people can see in the dark. Doctors use infrared to check for problems in cars and machines.

Infrared helps scientists study stars and planets in space because it can see through dust. It even helps us understand weather by showing temperatures and cloud heights from satellites.

Fun Facts About Infrared

• More than half of the sun’s energy that reaches Earth is infrared.
• Every object around you gives off some infrared radiation, like a warm glow you can’t see.
• Infrared is used in remote controls for TVs and other devices. When you press a button, the remote sends an invisible signal using infrared light!