Radiation — Describe

Describe an experiment to distinguish between good and bad emitters of infrared radiation.

Two identical containers, one with a dull black surface and one with a shiny/silver surface, are filled with hot water at the same starting temperature. An infrared detector (or the back of the hand) placed the same distance from each surface detects more radiation from the dull black surface, showing it is the better emitter. Alternatively, leaving both to cool and monitoring temperature over time shows the black surface cools faster, confirming it emits infrared radiation more effectively.