Does plain glass reflect infrared radiation?

In summary, glasshouses are warmed by trapping infrared heat inside. This can be achieved through two processes: glass reflecting infrared back into the glasshouse or glass absorbing infrared, heating up itself and then warming the interior by back-radiation. The properties of infrared vary greatly among different materials, with some being transparent and others opaque. Glass is known to reflect infrared, as evidenced by a passive IR sensor that turns on a nightlight in a bathroom when the glass shower door is opened.
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charles65
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Glasshouses warm because supposedly heat (infrared) is trapped inside. However I am looking for a description of the process. Is it by glass reflecting infrared back into the glasshouse, or is it by glass absorbing infrared, heating up itself and then warming the glass house interior by back-radiation?

These look like two different processes.
 
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Window is essentially transparent to visible light, but reflects infared wavelengths, this results in trapping(reflecting) re-radiated heat inside the greenhouse.
 
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Another point is that Infrared is from typically 700nm to 1mm is much broader than Visible light (400nm to 700nm). Because of that Infrared properties vary a lot with different materials. Many materials transmit NIR just like visible light where as opaque to higher wavelengths.

Found the following interesting IR and visible properties of material.
https://www.edmundoptics.com/resources/application-notes/optics/optical-glass/
https://www.edmundoptics.com/contentassets/639fec6d719643a8a3400e1205e6fa84/fig-4-cmi.gif
 
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And another piece of evidence that glass reflects IR...

The shower in our master bathroom uses clear safety glass. We have a passive IR (PIR) sensor that turns on a nightlight in the bathroom, and it times out and turns off after 5 minutes. When I open the glass door and get out of the shower, the PIR sensor turns on the night light... :smile:
 
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1. What is infrared radiation?

Infrared radiation is a type of electromagnetic radiation that has a longer wavelength than visible light. It is not visible to the human eye, but can be felt as heat.

2. Does plain glass reflect infrared radiation?

Yes, plain glass does reflect infrared radiation. However, the amount of reflection depends on the type of glass and its thickness. Generally, thicker and darker glass will reflect more infrared radiation than thinner and lighter glass.

3. How does plain glass reflect infrared radiation?

Plain glass reflects infrared radiation through a process called specular reflection. This means that the surface of the glass is smooth and flat, causing the infrared radiation to bounce off at the same angle that it hits the glass.

4. Is plain glass a good insulator against infrared radiation?

No, plain glass is not a good insulator against infrared radiation. While it does reflect some of the radiation, it also allows a significant amount to pass through. This is why glass windows can still feel warm to the touch on a sunny day.

5. Can plain glass be made to reflect more infrared radiation?

Yes, plain glass can be coated with a special material that increases its ability to reflect infrared radiation. This is often done in buildings to improve energy efficiency and reduce heat transfer through windows.

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