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Concept information

Preferred term

thermal radiation  

Definition

  • Thermal radiation is electromagnetic radiation generated by the thermal motion of particles in matter. Thermal radiation is generated when heat from the movement of charges in the material (electrons and protons in common forms of matter) is converted to electromagnetic radiation. All matter with a temperature greater than absolute zero emits thermal radiation. At room temperature, most of the emission is in the infrared (IR) spectrum. Particle motion results in charge-acceleration or dipole oscillation which produces electromagnetic radiation. Infrared radiation emitted by animals (detectable with an infrared camera) and cosmic microwave background radiation are examples of thermal radiation. (Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_radiation)

Entry terms

  • heat radiation

In other languages

URI

http://data.loterre.fr/ark:/67375/MDL-WXT2K3BB-Z

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