Physics – 2.3.3 Radiation | e-Consult

Thermal radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation, specifically infrared radiation. The energy of electromagnetic radiation is directly proportional to its frequency. Higher temperatures mean that the atoms and molecules within an object have greater kinetic energy and vibrate more vigorously. This increased vibration leads to the emission of more photons with higher energy and therefore a greater intensity of thermal radiation. The relationship between energy (E), frequency (f), and Planck's constant (h) is given by E = hf. Since higher temperatures result in higher vibrational frequencies and thus higher energy photons, more thermal radiation is emitted.