Do you know why metals glow when heated ? Do you know ? If you don't, find out?
Alright lets get down to it
You see, when metals get really hot (emphasis on "really hot"), they start to glow, yeah more like a beautiful firefly in the night sky. But now, if you are as curious as I am, the question here is why does this happen? Why exactly does the metal glow only when heated and mostly under extremely hot temperatures? Why?
Now pay attention and let's find out the absolute reason behind this using science involving physics, and chemistry, sprinkled with a bit of Math here and there
Image by Cyrille Remacly from Pixabay
Alright, Imagine a solid piece of metal, like a shiny silver coin (the color doesn't matter in this case) sitting quietly on a table. Now Inside this metal, there are tiny building blocks called atoms. These atoms are more or less like the guardians of the metal, holding it all together so to speak. They are always moving alright, even though we can't see them with our eyes, this phenomenon in which they tend to keep moving randomly is called entropy according to chemistry. Let's keep the rolling ball rolling Now, let's turn up the heat! Imagine giving the metal a warm hug or placing it near a campfire. When we heat up the metal, we're giving energy to these atoms, making them move faster and faster. It's like stirring up a pot of soup and everything starts bubbling and swirling around. Image by Franz P. Sauerteig from Pixabay
As these atoms zip and zoom around, they bump into each other and swap energy. This energy exchanged creates a magical light show, like tiny sparks flying in all directions, now imagine thousands and millions of sparks flying around in all directions. This light is what we see as glowing metal. It's as if the metal is whispering a secret message to us through its shimmering glow. But why do these atoms light up when they get hot? Well, think of it like a game of tag. When the metal is cold, the atoms are playing a slow and gentle game of tag. But when we heat up the metal, it's like they suddenly switch to playing a fast and energetic game of tag. They're so excited and full of energy that they can't help but shine brightly. Image by Dirk Hoenes from Pixabay
As these atoms continue to play their game of tag, they emit light in different colors, creating a mesmerizing display of colors. It's like a rainbow coming to life inside the metal, painting it with shades of red, orange, yellow, and more. This colorful light show is what makes hot metal glow so beautifully. And just like how you might feel tired and sleepy after playing a thrilling game of tag, these atoms eventually calm down and stop glowing as the metal cools off. They go back to their usual routine, waiting for the next warm-up session to start the dance party all over again. Image by vladimir ioan from Pixabay
So, the next time you see hot metal glowing, remember the lively dance of the atoms inside, creating a dazzling display of light just for you. It's a magical moment that shows us the hidden beauty and wonder of the world around us. Keep your eyes wide open for these shimmering lights and let them fill your heart with awe and excitement. In subsequent posts we would at why metals don't glow colors like purple, green, blue and the likes but only glow colors like yellow, orange, and red ,SO WATCH OUT !!! First Image by Cyrille Remacly from Pixabay
Now you know why metals glow when adequately heated. Thanks for reading Sayonara
Second Image by vladimir ioan from Pixabay
Third Image by Dirk Hoenes from Pixabay
Fourth Image by Franz P. Sauerteig from Pixabay
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