Step 1: Infrared radiation, often called 'heat waves', is a segment of the electromagnetic spectrum. It plays a crucial role in heat energy transfer.
Step 2: With wavelengths longer than visible light and shorter than microwaves, typically from \( 700 \, \text{nm} \) to \( 1 \, \text{mm} \), infrared radiation increases an object's thermal energy upon absorption, leading to its association with heat.