Step 1: Infrared radiation is the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that is commonly referred to as 'heat waves'. This is because infrared radiation is primarily responsible for transferring heat energy.
Step 2: Infrared radiation has wavelengths longer than visible light but shorter than microwaves, typically ranging from \( 700 \, \text{nm} \) to \( 1 \, \text{mm} \). When absorbed by an object, it increases the thermal energy of that object, which is why it is associated with heat.