Question Constellation Sign up for free

AQA · GCSE · Combined Science · Higher

Infrared imaging of temperature differences

Q05.1 2 marks

Different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum are used in medical imaging. Figure 8 shows an image of a person’s hand taken with an infrared camera.

Infrared camera image of a person’s hand shown in shades of grey, with a temperature scale from 23 degrees Celsius to 34 degrees Celsius.

Figure 8

Enlarged question image

Infrared camera image of a person’s hand shown in shades of grey, with a temperature scale from 23 degrees Celsius to 34 degrees Celsius.
Figure 8

Explain why the infrared camera is able to show that parts of the hand are at different temperatures.

Write your answer first. You can study the marking guidance whenever you need it.

Answer this question
Study the marking See what earns credit and compare it with a full-mark answer.

Marking points

  1. 1 State that parts at different temperatures emit different intensities of infrared radiation.
  2. 2 Explain that the camera displays these differences as different shades or colours.

Full-mark answer

Different temperatures emit different intensities of infrared radiation, and the infrared camera represents these different intensities as different shades or colours.

Why this answer loses marks

The camera sees heat.

This is too vague: the mark scheme requires different infrared intensities and their representation as different shades or colours.

Answer this question