- #1
AkshayPitt
- 8
- 0
Hello,
I was wondering how one would be able to tell the difference between an object emitting a certain wavelength of the EM spectrum, vs. an object reflecting that same wavelength of the EM spectrum. For example:
1) Suppose I have an IR source at 7 microns. I point this source at water, and capture data via a mid IR camera. Water has great absorption at 7 microns, so I don't see a direct reflection of the source captured by the camera. However, I do see that the water is emitting IR at 7 microns after having absorbed most of this radiation from this source.
2) I point the same source at a sheet of polished steel. I capture the data via a mid IR camera again. Polished steel has very high reflectivity, so I see almost a direct reflection of the source captured by the camera.
Would the signal captured by the mid IR camera look different in the two cases above?
Thanks.
I was wondering how one would be able to tell the difference between an object emitting a certain wavelength of the EM spectrum, vs. an object reflecting that same wavelength of the EM spectrum. For example:
1) Suppose I have an IR source at 7 microns. I point this source at water, and capture data via a mid IR camera. Water has great absorption at 7 microns, so I don't see a direct reflection of the source captured by the camera. However, I do see that the water is emitting IR at 7 microns after having absorbed most of this radiation from this source.
2) I point the same source at a sheet of polished steel. I capture the data via a mid IR camera again. Polished steel has very high reflectivity, so I see almost a direct reflection of the source captured by the camera.
Would the signal captured by the mid IR camera look different in the two cases above?
Thanks.