[yusufcam (Colin)]

Originally Posted by Steffen

Heat radiation (infrared) and visible light areessentiallyhttp://cdncache-a.akamaihd.net/items...rrow-10x10.png the same, just different wavelengths. The respective photons come into being as elementary particles electronshttp://cdncache-a.akamaihd.net/items...rrow-10x10.png) drop to lower energetic levels after having been raised to higher ones previously by way of some excitement (for example thermal motion, being hit by other photons, etc). The photons pick up the difference in energy, the higher the energy conferred onto them the shorter their wavelength. Photons aren't propelled, they come into being at the speed of light.

That's what I remember from myschoolhttp://cdncache-a.akamaihd.net/items...rrow-10x10.png physics anyway

Thanks Steffen

maybe the question should be why does a photon come into being at the speed of light? (which I am led to believe is a universal constant)


trying to get a laymens mental picture