I’m a firefighter and we just bought new TICs (Thermal Imaging Cameras). We did a training to familiarize ourselves with the new equipment and simulated searching for people in the station gym. While using it, I noticed that the display would show a silhouette of my body in the mirror. The way these cameras work (as I understand it) is not to look for an image to repeat on a screen, but to look for heat. I understand that my body gives off heat, and that’s how it distinguishes people for the image. However, the “me” in the mirror isn’t me. It’s only a reflection. So, shouldn’t the camera just show no heat coming off the wall/mirror?
In: Technology
The ‘heat’ they look for is infrared light, which is emitted by objects depending on their temperature (and surface characteristics). Mirrors reflect infrared light so they show up on a thermal camera.
BTW this is one reason infrared thermometers and thermal cameras aren’t always accurate. They can’t differentiation between heat emitted from an object and heat reflected off it.
heat is just light you cant normally see. mirrors can reflect it fine.
This is why heat resistant suits (for like foundry work) are shiny. and why reflective foil can help cook things.
This is alao how mylar emergency blankets work
The camera is, really, just a regular camera that collects light. Just like any other camera. The trick is what kind of light. Really hot things glow red, or even white. If something isn’t hot enough to glow red, it instead glows in *infrared* light.
The camera is designed to use this kind of light, invisible to the human eye. Hotter objects glow brighter and “whiter”, so this is what you see in the camera, and just like in any other camera it will see reflections.
Not just mirrors, if you point your thermal camera at a window you’re standing in front of, you’ll see your thermal reflection even if you don’t see your actual reflection.
Thermal cameras don’t see thru the window either; the window is a flat surface of usually cooler temperature.
It can discern foot prints on carpet too, they’re pretty neat.
Have a Ulefone Armor 9, a phone with a built in Flir thermal camera.
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