General:
The Atom
Kinetic &
Potential Energy
Introduction

Applications:
Conduction
Convection
Radiation

Bibliography:
Books
Other Sites

What is infrared radiation?

Infrared radiation (IR) is part of the electromagnetic spectrum and can be found between the visible light and microwaves.

The IR region is so broad that it is usually divided into three regions:

• The near IR � the range closest to visible light
• The thermal IR
• The far IR � which covers the remainder of the IR region.

When is it used?

Humans usually perceive infrared radiation as heat. This may be observed when baking in a range oven. The infrared radiation hits the surface of the food and allows water molecules to evaporate therefore drying out the surface of the food. This process explains why foods tend to become dry and crispy when baked.