Q.Write two uses of infrared rays.
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🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Infrared Radiation
Infrared (IR) radiation was discovered by William Herschel in 1800. Every hot body emits infrared radiation, and it makes up roughly half (about 49-50%) of the total radiation reaching Earth from the Sun. Because IR is not directly visible, it is detected using specialised heat-sensing instruments such as thermocouples, thermopiles and bolometers, all of which work by sensing the characteristic heating effect that infrared radiation produces when it strikes an object. …
Infrared is emitted by warm bodies and lies just beyond visible red, so its uses draw on its heat-carrying and easy-detection properties. …
Infrared rays are widely used for remote-control operation/short-range communication and for thermal imaging and therapeutic heating.
Infrared (IR) radiation lies just beyond the red end of the visible spectrum (wavelength roughly 700 nm to 1 mm) and is produced by hot bodies and molecules due to vibrational/rotational transitions. Common uses include:
- Remote controls and short-range wireless links: TV/AC remote controls send coded IR pulses to the receiver; IR is also used in some short-distance data links.
- Thermal/night-vision imaging: since all objects above absolute zero emit IR in proportion to their temperature, IR cameras can 'see' in the dark and are used in security, defence, and astronomy (photographing through interstellar dust). …
- CBSE 2026Set A1 markMCQQ.Remote control for televisions uses (A) infrared waves (B) ultraviolet waves (C) radio waves (D) microwaves
›Reveal solutionSolution
Remote controls use infrared (IR) light-emitting diodes to send commands.
A television remote control contains an infrared LED that emits pulsed infrared radiation (wavelength ~ 850–950 nm). The coded IR pulses are picked up by a photodiode sensor in the TV. Infrared is used …
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The electromagnetic wave used in remote controller is(a) infrared wave(b) micro wave(c) radio wave(d) ultraviolet wave
›Reveal solutionSolution
Remote controls for TVs, ACs, etc. transmit coded pulses using an infrared LED, so they use infrared electromagnetic waves.
Infrared waves have wavelengths just longer than visible light and are produced by hot bodies and by special LEDs. They are widely used in remote-control units of TVs, ACs and sim …
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Which electromagnetic radiation is used for photography in fog?(a) Radio wave(b) Infrared ray(c) Ultraviolet ray(d) X-ray
›Reveal solutionSolution
Scattering by small fog droplets is much stronger for shorter wavelengths, so the longer-wavelength infrared rays pass through fog more easily and are used for photography in fog.
Fog consists of tiny water droplets that scatter light strongly, especially shorter wavelengths (this is the same reason visible light struggles to penetrate fog, reducing visibility). Infrared radiation has a longer wavelength than visible light, so it is scattered much less by these small droplets and can pass through fog with far less attenuation. This property is used in infrared photography to capture images through fog/h …
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Which of the following is not true about infrared rays?(a) It is used in TV remotes(b) It is used in fighter aircrafts to see at night(c) It is used for relieving muscle pulls(d) It is used to detect cracks in metals
›Reveal solutionSolution
Infrared radiation is used in remote controls, night-vision equipment and physiotherapy because of its heating effect on tissue and its detectability by heat/IR sensors. Detecting internal flaws or cracks in metal objects requires the much higher-penetrating, shorter-wavelength X-rays, not infrared — so option (d) is the false statement.
Checking each statement about infrared (IR) rays against its real applications:
- TV remotes — TRUE. Household remote controls use an IR LED to send coded pulses of infrared light to a receiver in the television; IR is safe, cheap and does not interfere with visible-light signals.
- Fighter aircraft night vision — TRUE. All objects above absolute zero emit infrared radiation (thermal radiation) roughly in proportion to their temperature. Night-vision and thermal-imaging systems (including those used in military/fighter aircraft) detect this emitted IR to "see" objects (such as another aircraft's engine heat) in the dark, when visible light is insufficient.
- Relieving muscle pulls — TRUE. Infrared lamps are commonly used in physiotherapy: IR radiation penetrates a short distance into the skin and underlying tissue and is absorbed, producing a local heating effect that increases blood circulation and helps relax muscles and relieve pain/muscle pulls. …
- CBSE 2025Set 55/5/11 markMCQQ.Which of the following rays coming from the Sun plays an important role in keeping the earth warm? (A) Infrared rays (B) γ-rays (C) UV rays (D) Visible light rays
›Reveal solutionSolution
The Sun’s infrared rays are the primary carriers of heat energy that warm the Earth’s surface. While UV and visible light also arrive, it is the infrared radiation that directly plays the key role in keeping the Earth warm. The correct option is (A).
Why this question is about heat, not just light
When we ask “what keeps the Earth warm?”, we are really asking about thermal energy transfer. The Sun emits a broad spectrum of electromagnetic radiation — from gamma rays to radio waves. But not all of it heats the Earth equally. Some is reflected, some is absorbed in the upper atmosphere, and some reaches the surface and warms it.
The key idea: objects at the Sun’s temperature (~5500°C) emit mostly visible light, but objects at Earth’s temperature (~15°C) emit mostly infrared. The warming process involves two steps — the Sun’s energy arrives mostly as visible light, gets absorbed by the ground, and then the ground re-emits that energy as infrared radiation, which is trapped by greenhouse gases. That trapped infrared is what actually keeps the surface warm.
Let’s examine each option.
Step-by-step reasoning
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Infrared rays (Option A)
Infrared radiation is directly associated with heat. Any object above absolute zero emits infrared. The Earth’s surface, after absorbing sunlight, radiates infrared back out. Greenhouse gases (CO₂, H₂O) absorb this infrared and re-radiate it, keeping the lower atmosphere warm. Without this infrared trapping, the Earth would be about 33°C colder.
Conclusion: Infrared is the direct agent of warming.
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Gamma rays (Option B)
Gamma rays are extremely high-energy, short-wavelength radiation. They are produced by nuclear reactions in the Sun’s core, but they are absorbed high in the Earth’s atmosphere (in the ionosphere) and never reach the surface. They do not contribute to surface warming — they can even be harmful.
Conclusion: Gamma rays play no role in keeping the Earth warm.
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UV rays (Option C)
Ultraviolet radiation has more energy than visible light. Most UV is absorbed by the ozone layer in the stratosphere. This absorption does heat the upper atmosphere, but that heat does not significantly warm the surface. UV is responsible for sunburns and vitamin D synthesis, not for the planet’s overall warmth.
Conclusion: UV is not the primary warming agent.
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Visible light rays (Option D) …
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- CBSE 2024Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ............. is used for photography in fog.(a) Polaroid(b) Infrared ray(c) Ultraviolet ray(d) X-rays
›Reveal solutionSolution
Scattering by small fog droplets is much weaker for longer-wavelength radiation, so infrared rays penetrate fog better than visible light and are used for photography in fog.
Fog consists of tiny water droplets that strongly scatter visible light (shorter wavelength), which is why visibility drops in fog. Infrared radiation has a longer wavelength than visible light, so it is scattered much less by these small droplets (scattering by particles of this size falls off rapidly as wavelength increases) and penetrates through fog and ha …
- CBSE 2023Set B1 markQ.Write True or False: Infrared radiation is invented by scientist Retar.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Infrared radiation was discovered by William Herschel, so the statement (attributing it to 'Retar') is false.
William Herschel discovered infrared radiation in 1800 while measuring the temperature of different colours of the visible spectrum split by a prism — he found the temperature kept rising even beyond the red end of the visible spectrum, revealing an invisible form of radiation (infrared) carrying heat. There is no recognised discoverer of infrared ra …
- CBSE 2023Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ................. is used for photography in fog.(1) Polaroid(2) Infrared(3) Ultraviolet(4) X-rays
›Reveal solutionSolution
Infrared radiation scatters less than visible light in fog (scattering decreases with increasing wavelength), so it is used for fog/haze photography.
Fog consists of fine water droplets that strongly scatter shorter-wavelength visible light (Mie/Rayleigh-type scattering), reducing visibility. Infrared, having a longer wavelength, is …
- CBSE 2022Set HE2171 markQ.Match the following. Column A item: 'Infrared Radiations'. Choose its matching entry from Column B:(a) (1 - D/f)(b) Hertz(c) Electromagnetic induction(d) (-v0/u0)(1 + D/fe)(e) V.I.(f) Hershel(g) Instrument of measuring current(h) Instrument of measuring potential(i) Polarisation of light(j) Unit of energy
›Reveal solutionSolution
Infrared radiation was discovered by the astronomer William Herschel in 1800, matching option (f).
William Herschel discovered infrared radiation while measuring the temperature of different colours of the visible spectrum (dispersed by a prism); he found the temperature was still rising just beyond the red end of the visible spectrum, revealing an invisible …
- CBSE 2022Set TERM21 markMCQQ.Out of the following options, which can be referred as heat waves?(a) Radio waves(b) Microwaves(c) Infrared waves(d) Visible rays
›Reveal solutionSolution
Infrared radiation is strongly absorbed by the water molecules and other constituents of most materials, producing a heating effect, so it is popularly called "heat radiation."
Among the electromagnetic spectrum bands listed, infrared waves (wavelength roughly 700 nm to 1 mm) are readily absorbed by matter and raise its temperature — this is why they are commonly referr …
- CBSE 2022Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Electromagnetic waves of which of the following wavelengths represents an infrared wavelength?(a) 10⁻⁴cm(b) 10⁻⁵cm(c) 10⁻⁶cm(d) 10⁻⁷cm.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Converting each option to nanometres and comparing against the infrared band (~700 nm – 1 mm) shows only 10⁻⁴ cm qualifies.
The electromagnetic spectrum, in order of increasing frequency (decreasing wavelength) around the visible region is: infrared (∼700 nm to 1 mm) → visible light (400–700 nm) → ultraviolet (10–400 nm) → soft X-rays → X-rays.
Convert each option (1 cm=107 nm):
- (a) 10−4 cm=10−4×107 nm=1000 nm=1 μm — this is in the infrared range. …
- CBSE 2019Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Name the electromagnetic radiation which is used to produce dehydrated fruits.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Infrared radiation's heating effect (readily absorbed by water molecules) is used industrially to dry out moisture from fruit.
Reasoning
Infrared (IR) radiation is strongly absorbed by water and other polar molecules, producing a heating effect. This heating effect is used in industrial dehydration/drying processes, includ …
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