The ability of a particular type of wave to pass through a material depends on various factors, including the interaction of the wave with the molecules or atoms in the material and the energy of the wave.
Infrared (IR) waves and microwaves both fall within the electromagnetic spectrum, but they have different properties due to their wavelength and energy levels.
When it comes to passing through materials like glasses, the behavior of waves is primarily determined by their interaction with the molecules or atoms in the material. In the case of glasses, certain types of glasses are transparent to visible light but can absorb or reflect other wavelengths of light, including infrared.
In general, longer-wavelength waves such as microwaves tend to have lower energy levels compared to shorter-wavelength waves like infrared. This lower energy can result in less interaction with the molecules or atoms in a material, making microwaves more penetrating.
Microwaves have wavelengths typically in the range of centimeters to millimeters, while infrared waves have wavelengths in the range of micrometers to nanometers. Although microwaves have longer wavelengths compared to infrared, their lower energy levels allow them to pass through certain materials more easily. However, it's important to note that the ability of waves to penetrate materials can also depend on the specific properties and composition of the material in question.
Therefore, the ability of microwaves to penetrate certain materials better than infrared waves, despite having longer wavelengths, is primarily due to their lower energy levels and the resulting reduced interaction with the material's molecules or atoms.