radiant energy
Electromagnetic wave transmission
Radiant energy is energy transmitted as electromagnetic waves—light, heat, radio waves, X-rays.
The sun delivers radiant energy to Earth.
In physics, the term distinguishes energy carried by radiation from energy stored in matter or transmitted by conduction: Solar panels convert radiant energy into electricity.
Discrete packets of radiance
- wavelengthSpatial repetition interval
- spectrumContinuous range of values
- infraredHeat-bearing electromagnetic waves
- ultravioletWavelengths shorter than violet
gamma rays · microwaves · radio waves · visible light · X-rays · frequency · amplitude · Planck's constant
Release of visible energy
- glowSteady, soft light
- luminescenceHeatless light emission
- fluorescenceLight emitted after absorption
- phosphorescenceHeatless delayed light emission
bioluminescence · luminosity · illumination · brightness · light intensity · candela · lumen · lux
Movement of thermal energy
- temperatureMeasured heat intensity
- warmthHeat you feel
- conductionHeat transfer through contact
- convectionHeat transfer via motion
thermodynamics · emissivity · absorptivity · pyrometer · thermal imaging · heat lamp · incandescence · thermal equilibrium
Radiance from our star
- photovoltaicLight-to-electricity converting
- solar panelsLight-converting power generators
- solar cellsLight-to-electricity converters
- insolationSolar radiation received
solar spectrum · UV rays · daylight · sun exposure · heliotherapy · solar collector · sunshine · direct sunlight
photons
Discrete packets of radiance
- wavelengthSpatial repetition interval
- spectrumContinuous range of values
- infraredHeat-bearing electromagnetic waves
ultraviolet · gamma rays · microwaves · radio waves · visible light · X-rays · frequency · amplitude · Planck's constant · irradiance
light emission
Release of visible energy
- glowSteady, soft light
- luminescenceHeatless light emission
- fluorescenceLight emitted after absorption
phosphorescence · bioluminescence · luminosity · illumination · brightness · light intensity · candela · lumen · lux · photometry
heat transfer
Movement of thermal energy
- temperatureMeasured heat intensity
- warmthHeat you feel
- conductionHeat transfer through contact
convection · thermodynamics · emissivity · absorptivity · pyrometer · thermal imaging · heat lamp · incandescence · thermal equilibrium
sunlight
Radiance from our star
- photovoltaicLight-to-electricity converting
- solar panelsLight-converting power generators
- solar cellsLight-to-electricity converters
insolation · solar spectrum · UV rays · daylight · sun exposure · heliotherapy · solar collector · sunshine · direct sunlight · sunbeam
- energyelectricity, power, oil, fuel, gas
- pseudosciencehomeopathy, astrology, phrenology, numerology, palmistry
- Radiometryirradiance, radiometer, fluence, reflectance, transmittance
- Thermal Radiationinfrared, emissivity, blackbody, Stefan-Boltzmann law, infrared light
- clean energysolar power, solar, wind power, wind, solar panels
- light spectrumvisible spectrum, spectrum, sunlight, visible light, white light
radiant energythermal conduction
Heat moving through matter
kinetic energy · mechanical energy · conduction · convection · acoustic energy
energy, energetic, radiant, radiate, radiance, radiation, radiator, radiating, radiators