Thermal radiation is
electromagnetic radiation emitted from a material which is due to the
heat of the material, the characteristics of which depend on its
temperature. An example of thermal radiation is the
infrared radiation emitted by a common household
radiator or
electric heater. A person near a raging bonfire will feel the radiated heat of the fire, even if the surrounding air is very cold. Thermal radiation is generated when heat from the movement of
charges in the material (
electrons and
protons in common forms of
matter) is converted to electromagnetic radiation. Sunshine, or
solar radiation, is thermal radiation from the extremely hot gasses of the
Sun, and this radiation heats the
Earth. The Earth also emits thermal radiation, but at a much lower intensity because it is cooler. The balance between heating by incoming solar thermal radiation and cooling by the Earth's outgoing thermal radiation is the primary process that determines the Earth's overall temperature.
Name:Al SHafiQ