pukb said:The IR part of sunlight(mostly) carries heat. That is radiation.
mymachine said:Next question, what is infra red?
phinds said:You REALLY need to learn how to use Google.
mymachine said:Prefer to ask it here.
Radiation is a type of heat transfer that occurs through electromagnetic waves. Unlike conduction and convection, it does not require a medium to transfer heat. Radiation can occur through a vacuum, such as in space, while conduction and convection require a physical medium, such as a solid or fluid, to transfer heat.
There are three main types of radiation: infrared radiation, visible light, and ultraviolet radiation. Infrared radiation has longer wavelengths and is responsible for heat transfer in everyday objects, while visible light has shorter wavelengths and is responsible for the colors we see. Ultraviolet radiation has even shorter wavelengths and can be harmful to living organisms.
Radiation can both increase and decrease the temperature of an object, depending on the source and intensity of the radiation. For example, the sun's radiation can increase the temperature of objects on Earth, while objects with a higher temperature can emit radiation and cool down.
Radiation plays a crucial role in the Earth's heat balance, also known as the greenhouse effect. The Earth's atmosphere acts like a blanket, trapping some of the sun's radiation and preventing it from escaping into space. This helps to maintain a relatively stable temperature on Earth and supports life.
Radiation can be measured and quantified using different units, such as watts per square meter (W/m²) or joules per square meter (J/m²). These units measure the amount of energy transferred through radiation over a specific area. Other measures, such as the Stefan-Boltzmann Law, can be used to calculate the rate of radiation emitted by an object based on its temperature.