How do those infrared thermometers work? How does flashing a red light on someones head give you their body temperature?
In: Technology
The red light you see is only a part of what’s going on. The red light is used to tell you two things: the thermometer is on and it shows you what you’re pointing at so you know you’re reading the right temperature.
The actual temperature reading is done through different light that our eyes can’t see. Infrared light is invisible, but we can feel it as heat. The thermometer is measuring the infrared light being given off by a person/food being cooked/whatever, and translates that to a temperature. Higher energy infrared is associated with higher temperatures.
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