How do molecules radiate photons and contribute to thermal radiation?

[Zaya Bell]

If a substance gains energy, it's molecules vibrate faster and thus the material increases temperature. My question is if heat lost through any other means but radiation is zero, how exactly does these molecules radiate photons?

 

[BvU]

if heat lost through any other means but radiation is zero

If radation is zero, the molecules do not radiate photons, so the question

how exactly do these molecules radiate photons?

appears a bit strange. Can you elucidate ?

 

[Zaya Bell]

If radation is zero, the molecules do not radiate photons, so the question

I'm saying that all other forms except radiation is zero.

appears a bit strange. Can you elucidate ?

It is said that all molecules above absolute zero emit thermal radiation which are actually photons. The question is, what is the source of the this photons? From the electron? nucleus? Where? And how?

 

[BvU]

Google for black body and from there for black body radiation, Rayleigh-Jeans, Wien, Planck etc.

I'm saying that all other forms except radiation is zero.

Ah, I misread, sorry.

It is said that all molecules above absolute zero emit thermal radiation which are actually photons.

correct -- up to a point: individual molecules do not have a temperature. They have velocities and thereby kinetic energy. The temperature of a macroscopic quantity of material has a temperature that is directly related to the average kinetic energy.

The question is, what is the source of the this photons? From the electron? nucleus? Where? And how?

any phenomenon that can absorb energy (e.g. molecular vibrations, rotations, electron orbits) to go into a state of higher energy can emit energy and end up in a lower energy state.

[edited the 'correct'a little...

 

[Nugatory]

The question is, what is the source of the this photons? From the electron? nucleus? Where? And how?

The electromagnetic fields within the material are constantly changing because they are produced by the random movement of trillions of trillions of charged particles in the heated material. These changing fields are what causes the electromagnetic radiation.

So the source of the photons is the heated material, and it doesn't make sense to try to narrow it down further.

 

[Zaya Bell]

individual molecules do not have a temperature.

Yeah, sorry. Wanted to say all molecules in a material above absolute zero.