Eli5: how do thermal cameras capture heat without any physical contact

Question

Eli5: how do thermal cameras capture heat without any physical contact

In: 4

Answer 1

The same way your eyes capture visible light without any visible contact. All objects emit infrared radiation based on how much heat they have, and infrared radiation is just light that we can’t see with our eyes because it’s below visible light in the electromagnetic spectrum. Our eyes can’t see it, but we can make sensors that can.