Subject: How does kinetic energy become radiant Energy?

Hi,
We are learning in class about kinetic and potential energy and how it is 
created and transferred. How does kinetic energy transfer to radiant energy? 
For example if you heat up a plate of iron and it starts to glow, what amount 
of kinetic energy is needed for it to emit the photons (Is kinetic energy not 
a fixed amount like photons?)? Or say to accelerate/rotate an atom how fast and 
what energy level needs to happen until it emits a photon, and how?

Re: How does kinetic energy become radiant Energy?