Why does a thermal imaging camera show a body in a reflection on a mirror?

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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?

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4 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

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.

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