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Guilherme Mazui

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What is the Difference Between Infrared and Ultraviolet Radiation?

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Infrared and ultraviolet radiation are two types of electromagnetic radiation with distinct characteristics. The main differences between them include:

  1. Wavelength: Infrared radiation has longer wavelengths (from 750 nm to 1 mm), while ultraviolet radiation has shorter wavelengths (from 10 nm to 380 nm). Ultraviolet radiation is more energetic than infrared radiation.
  2. Energy: The energy of electromagnetic radiation depends on its wavelength. The shorter the wavelength, the higher the frequency, and the more energy the radiation is able to transport. As a result, ultraviolet radiation carries more energy than infrared radiation.
  3. Harmfulness to humans: Infrared radiation generally has a longer wavelength than visible light and is not considered harmful to the human body. On the other hand, overexposure to ultraviolet radiation can cause health issues, such as cancer and eye defects.
  4. Heating effect: Infrared radiation is used for heating and drying products, as well as for space heating and other applications, due to its ability to penetrate deeper into materials and transfer more heat.
  5. Infrared vs. ultraviolet radiation: Infrared is the heat you feel from the sun, while ultraviolet radiation is responsible for sunburns.

In summary, infrared radiation is characterized by longer wavelengths and has less energy compared to ultraviolet radiation, which has shorter wavelengths and more energy. While infrared radiation is generally harmless and has heating effects, ultraviolet radiation can be dangerous to humans when exposed in excessive amounts.

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  • What is the Difference Between Infrared and Ultraviolet Radiation?
  • Comparative Table: Infrared vs Ultraviolet Radiation

    • Comparative Table: Infrared vs Ultraviolet Radiation

    Infrared and ultraviolet radiations are two types of electromagnetic radiation with different characteristics. Here is a table comparing their main differences:

    Property Infrared Radiation Ultraviolet Radiation
    Wavelength Range 700 nm - 1 nm 10 nm - 400 nm
    Visibility Invisible to the human eye Invisible to the human eye
    Energy Low High
    Application Night vision equipment, heat transfer Sunburn, skin aging, tanning
    Effects Thermal radiation, transfers heat through a vacuum, emitted from human bodies Emitted by the Sun, sk
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    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.