Light energy from sources such as the sun can indeed be converted into heat energy upon absorption by materials. This process occurs as light energy interacts with molecules, resulting in an increase in thermal energy. It is essential to understand that thermal energy is not a distinct form of energy but rather a manifestation of energy contained within microscopic degrees of freedom. Thus, light energy and heat energy are interconnected through the absorption process.
PREREQUISITESStudents and professionals in physics, materials science, and engineering who are interested in the interactions between light and thermal energy, as well as those studying energy conversion processes.
Thanks for your kind reply.Dale said:Thermal energy is not its own kind of energy. It is just any form of energy contained in microscopic degrees of freedom that we cannot individually track