Which type of temperature probe senses infrared energy emitted by a material?

The type of temperature probe that senses infrared energy emitted by a material is the noncontact temperature probe. These probes operate by detecting the infrared radiation emitted from an object rather than requiring direct physical contact to measure temperature. This principle allows them to measure the temperature of moving objects, hazardous materials, or very hot surfaces without risking damage to the sensor or the object being measured.

Noncontact temperature measurement is particularly useful in applications where traditional contact methods could interfere with the process or lead to unsafe conditions. This capability is beneficial in industries like manufacturing, food safety, and environmental monitoring.

In contrast, contact probes physically touch the material and rely on thermal conduction to determine temperature, making them unsuitable for certain applications where contact could lead to inaccurate readings or damage. Thermocouples are a specific type of contact probe that produce a voltage corresponding to temperature based on the junction of two dissimilar metals. A calibrated temperature probe refers to any probe that has been adjusted to provide accurate readings, but it does not denote a specific technology related to infrared measurement.