rationalskepticism.org

The bonds within molecules all vibrate at temperatures above absolute zero. There are several types of vibrations that cause absorptions in the infrared region. Probably the most simple to visualise are bending and stretching, examples of which are illustrated below using a molecule of water.
If the vibration of these bonds result in the change of the molecule’s dipole moment then the molecule will absorb infrared energy at a frequency corresponding to the frequency of the bond’s natural vibration. This absorption of energy resulting in an increase in the amplitude of the vibrations is known as resonance.