Abstract
In the last decade, a powerful tool has been given to physics teachers to visualize thermodynamic phenomena. Thermal imaging cameras are fascinating devices opening the world of (even small) temperature changes and being able to uncover hidden manifestations of many processes around us.
This paper describes a few qualitative thermal imaging experiments prepared primarily for problem-based lessons and repeatedly used with high school or even university students in the Interactive Physics Laboratory at Charles University. These experiments are focused on thermal processes, which often run in unexpected ways (at least for the students), and their explanations typically require a complex insight into physics, so they can be used as a starting point for discussions and activities designed for some level of inquiry.