Why Infrared Light Can't Travel Easily Through Air

AI Thread Summary
Infrared light has difficulty traveling through air primarily due to the presence of numerous molecules that absorb its energy. This absorption results in the heating of the air rather than triggering chemical reactions. The interaction between infrared light and air molecules limits its transmission. Understanding this phenomenon is crucial for applications involving infrared technology. Overall, the absorption of infrared light by air significantly impacts its propagation.
Drizzy
Messages
210
Reaction score
1

Homework Statement


"Infrared light doesn't travel through air easily". Why is that? Is it because there are lots of molecules that absorb the energy so that a reaction occurs?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

 
Science news on Phys.org
Drizzy said:
"Infrared light doesn't travel through air easily". Why is that? Is it because there are lots of molecules that absorb the energy so that a reaction occurs?

You're right that there are lots of molecules that absorb the IR light, but the energy simply heats up the air, not cause a chemical reaction.
 
Oh thanks for the explanation :)
 
Thread 'A quartet of epi-illumination methods'

Thread 'A quartet of epi-illumination methods'

Well, it took almost 20 years (!!!), but I finally obtained a set of epi-phase microscope objectives (Zeiss). The principles of epi-phase contrast is nearly identical to transillumination phase contrast, but the phase ring is a 1/8 wave retarder rather than a 1/4 wave retarder (because with epi-illumination, the light passes through the ring twice). This method was popular only for a very short period of time before epi-DIC (differential interference contrast) became widely available. So...
View full post »

Thread 'Effective absorption coefficient of gold nanoparticles'

I am currently undertaking a research internship where I am modelling the heating of silicon wafers with a 515 nm femtosecond laser. In order to increase the absorption of the laser into the oxide layer on top of the wafer it was suggested we use gold nanoparticles. I was tasked with modelling the optical properties of a 5nm gold nanoparticle, in particular the absorption cross section, using COMSOL Multiphysics. My model seems to be getting correct values for the absorption coefficient and...
View full post »

Similar threads

Light waves traveling through air
Replies
2
Views
1K
What happens when infrared light passes through a glass prism?
Replies
6
Views
6K
Why does infrared light produce more heat than visible light?
Replies
24
Views
7K
I The kinetic energy of proton-electron for a black body
Replies
8
Views
2K
Quesitons about scattering of light
Replies
1
Views
1K
Composition of Light: Questions & Answers
Replies
28
Views
3K
Why does the speed of light change in different media?
Replies
4
Views
4K
Why light slows in transparent media
Replies
4
Views
10K
Does Snell's Law accurately explain light refraction in water?
Replies
17
Views
2K
Wave / particle duality of light
Replies
4
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top