Infrared Camera
Creative commons physics teaching resources and scheme of work
created by Simon Poliakoff
Creative commons physics teaching resources and scheme of work
created by Simon Poliakoff
This page contains links for videos for ideas for demonstrations using infrared cameras. There are lots of places they can be used beyond the obvious heat transfer and radiation topics. Do send me any other suggestions you have using this google form.
Not all infrared cameras can see the filament through the glass blub. I used a Hikmicro Mini-X wireless camera. The demonstration shows that shorter wavelenght infrared radiation from the hot filament will pass through glass but shorter wavelenghth infrared radiation from the globe is absorbed and reflected by a piece of glass
A new twist on the classic demonstration of colliding two large steel spheres and burning a hole in a piece of paper from the transfer of kinetic energy of the spheres into thermal energy in the paper. You can see on the infrared camera the heating effect.
A series of five demonstrations which are idea to get students writing explanations using the key terms absorb, transmit and reflect. Shows the different behaviour of visible light and infrared radiation.
An updated version of Herschel's famous experiment to show that the area of the spectrum which warms up most is beyond the red end of the visible light spectrum.
The infrared camera reveals that the work done by or against friction causes energy to transfer into the thermal store.
Shows that a rough metal surface still provides specular reflection in infrared allowing a clear image to be seen but scatters visible light.
After heating a phone directory (or thin paged magazine) you can flick through the pages and see the temperature gradient and different emisitivties of the coloured inks.
The infrared camera reveals which resistor is dissipating the highest power and hence heats up the fastest.
A wire is gradually heated by an electrical current and the infrared camera reveals it emits infrared radiation before visible light. A diffraction grating is then used to see how the visible light spectrum changes as it gets hotter.
Not actually with an infrared camera but using the front camera of an older mobile phone together with a diffraction grating. The wavelength of the short wavelength infrared radiation from the remote control can be determined.
Using a large polystyrene ball painted as an Earth and a carbon filament lamp to act as the Sun the seasons are demonstrated using an infrared camera.
The temperature drop when salt is added to an ice water mxiture is clear to see with an infrared camera
A wire is gradually heated by an electrical current and the infrared camera reveals it emits infrared radiation before visible light. A diffraction grating is then used to see how the visible light spectrum changes as it gets hotter.
Not actually with an infrared camera but using the front camera of an older mobile phone together with a diffraction grating. The wavelength of the short wavelength infrared radiation from the remote control can be determined.
Cubes heated in an oven cool down faster when arranged to maximise surface area.
This classice demonstration is enhanced by revelaing the plume of hot air above the tea bag.
More of a biology demonstration - the infrared camera reveals the difference in temperature of air breathed in and out. Although I think part of the difference is caused by evaporative cooling.
Shows the work done by friction heating up the paper and ink to cause the chemical reaction which makes it dissapear.
Shows the heating of the nail around where it its entering the wood because of the mechanical work done.
Shows the temperature increase along the tear line beacuse of the mechanical work done.
As water absorbs infrared radiation to get this to work you need a very thin layer of water. I used a thin plastic sachet which spices from a kit came in and heated it from the bottom with a cup of hot water.
Using the same thin sachet as the previous video you can see the cold water from the ice melting sinking to the bottom.
Nice enhancement to the fast melt slow melt of ice cubes placed on identical looking plastic and metal plates. Shows that the metal plate becomes colder quickly as it transfers energy to the ice cube. Thanks to Dan Jones (@hookean1) for this idea