Winton Eliott
The history of how infrared light was discovered is a unique story. It started with an incident that happened over two hundred years ago.
Who discovered infrared light?
In the late 1700s, astronomer William Herschel was studying the properties of different colors of light using a simple tool called a prism.
When he shone sunlight through the prism, he noticed that it separated into all the colors of the rainbow. He also noticed something else: a type of light that he couldn’t see with his eyes.
Herschel was curious about this invisible light, so he decided to experiment with it further.
He placed a thermometer in the path of the invisible light, and he discovered that this type of light caused the thermometer to heat up.
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Why is it called infrared?
Infrared radiation is a type of electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength that is longer than that of visible light. It is used in a variety of applications, including night vision, remote control, and thermal imaging.
The name “infrared” comes from the Latin word for “below red,” because infrared radiation has a lower frequency than red light.
Infrared radiation is invisible to the human eye, but it can be detected by electronic sensors. thermometers are one example of a common device that uses infrared radiation to measure temperature.
Scientists believe that infrared radiation makes up a significant portion of the energy emitted by stars and other objects in the universe.
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When was infrared first used?
infrared was first used in 1874 by sir William Herschel. Herschel was investigating the relationship between heat and light and discovered that there was an invisible form of light beyond the red end of the visible spectrum.
He called this new form of light “infrared,” which comes from the Latin infra, meaning “below.” over the next few years, other scientists continued to investigate infrared light, and its potential applications began to be explored.
In 1930, the first infrared camera was developed, and it was used during World War II to detect enemy planes. Today, infrared cameras are used in a variety of settings, from security cameras to medical imaging devices.
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How is infrared used today?
Infrared radiation is used in a number of different ways. It includes:
Night-vision goggles
Night-vision goggles use infrared technology to amplify the available light, enabling the user to see in dark or low-light conditions. infrared radiation is invisible to the human eye, but it can be detected by special sensors.
The infrared sensor in night-vision goggles captures this invisible light and amplifies it, creating an image that is visible to the user.
This amplified image is typically displayed on a small screen inside the goggles. Night-vision goggles can be used for a variety of applications, including surveillance, navigation, and search and rescue missions.
Remote controls
infrared remote controls use low-power infrared light to transmit signals from a hand-held device to another device such as a television, DVD player, or amplifier.
Infrared remote controls are most often used for consumer electronics such as televisions, DVD players, and home theater systems.
They are also used in some industrial applications such as factory automation and process control. infrared remote controls typically have a range of about 30 feet (9 meters).
The infrared light is modulated with a carrier frequency that is outside the visible spectrum, so it is invisible to the human eye. infrared remote controls use a code system to represent the various button presses that are required to operate the device.
Each time a button on the remote control is pressed, the infrared light-emitting diode (LED) sends out a burst of infrared light that encodes the information for that button. The receiving device decodes the signal and performs the requested function.
Thermal imaging
Thermal imaging is a type of infrared imaging that uses heat signatures to create an image. Thermal imagers are used in a variety of applications, including security, industrial inspection, and medical diagnosis.
Thermal imagers work by detecting the infrared radiation emitted by objects and translating it into an image that can be seen by the human eye.
The colors in a thermal image represent different levels of heat, with warmer colors indicating higher temperatures and cooler colors indicating lower temperatures.
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The takeaway
The discovery of infrared light was a landmark event in the history of science. This invisible form of light had a profound impact on our understanding of the universe, and its properties continue to be studied by scientists today.
While its applications are numerous, perhaps the most important role of infrared light is in astronomy.
By studying the infrared emissions of distant objects, astronomers have been able to learn a great deal about the universe beyond our own Solar System.
Infrared light has also proven to be an invaluable tool in medical imaging, allowing doctors to see inside the human body without harming patients.
In short, the discovery of infrared light has had a profound impact on our lives and our understanding of the universe around us.
