Radiation (2.3.3) | Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) Physics 0972 (Extended) (2026–2028) | KnowledgeSet

Radiation

Physics · IGCSE · Cambridge · Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) Physics 0972 (Extended) (2026–2028) · Specification point · 2.3.3 · Thermal physics · Transfer of thermal energy

Thermal radiation

Surface properties and infrared radiation

Energy balance and temperature

Earth’s radiation balance

Temperature and area effects on radiation emission

Comparing infrared emitters experimentally

Comparing infrared absorbers experimentally

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Learning Objectives

2.3.3 Radiation

Core	Supplement
$1 Know that thermal radiation is infrared radiation and that all objects emit this radiation 2 Know that thermal energy transfer by thermal radiation does not require a medium 3 Describe the effect of surface colour (black or white) and texture (dull or shiny) on the emission, absorption and reflection of infrared radiation$	$4 Know that for an object to be at a constant temperature it needs to transfer energy away from the object at the same rate that it receives energy 5 Know what happens to an object if the rate at which it receives energy is less or more than the rate at which it transfers energy away from the object 6 Know how the temperature of the Earth is affected by factors controlling the balance between incoming radiation and radiation emitted from the Earth’s surface 7 Describe experiments to distinguish between good and bad emitters of infrared radiation 8 Describe experiments to distinguish between good and bad absorbers of infrared radiation 9 Describe how the rate of emission of radiation depends on the surface temperature and surface area of an object$

Core

Supplement

1 Know that thermal radiation is infrared radiation and that all objects emit this radiation 2 Know that thermal energy transfer by thermal radiation does not require a medium 3 Describe the effect of surface colour (black or white) and texture (dull or shiny) on the emission, absorption and reflection of infrared radiation

4 Know that for an object to be at a constant temperature it needs to transfer energy away from the object at the same rate that it receives energy 5 Know what happens to an object if the rate at which it receives energy is less or more than the rate at which it transfers energy away from the object 6 Know how the temperature of the Earth is affected by factors controlling the balance between incoming radiation and radiation emitted from the Earth’s surface 7 Describe experiments to distinguish between good and bad emitters of infrared radiation 8 Describe experiments to distinguish between good and bad absorbers of infrared radiation 9 Describe how the rate of emission of radiation depends on the surface temperature and surface area of an object