Is an infrared image an image of thermal radiation differences?

• A. Yes
• B. No - Radiation distribution
• C. It shows only visible light
• D. It shows only temperature values

Answer: (A)

Infrared images are built from the infrared energy objects emit due to their temperature. The picture is essentially a map of how much infrared radiation different parts of a scene emit, so it highlights temperature differences across the scene. The camera converts those radiation levels into brightness or color, with hotter areas typically appearing brighter or in warm colors and cooler areas darker or in cool colors. Since this detects wavelengths outside the visible range, it’s not showing visible light at all. While some displays can show exact temperature values when calibrated, the image mainly communicates relative thermal differences, not a single temperature reading. So, yes, an infrared image is an image of thermal radiation differences.