SHOULD DO: 6.5 | Energy | Conduction, Convection and Radiation

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What is conduction?

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Conduction is the transfer of thermal energy through direct contact between materials. It occurs when heat moves from a hotter object to a cooler one, such as when a metal spoon gets hot from being in a pot of boiling water.

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What is convection?

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Convection is the transfer of thermal energy through the movement of fluids (liquids and gases). Warm air or liquid rises, while cooler air or liquid sinks, creating a circulation pattern. An example is how warm air rises in a room.

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What is radiation?

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Radiation is the transfer of thermal energy through electromagnetic waves. It does not require a medium to travel through, which is why we can feel the heat from the sun even though space is a vacuum.

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What is an example of conduction?

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An example of conduction is touching a hot stove and feeling the heat transfer to your hand.

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What is an example of convection?

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An example of convection is boiling water in a pot, where the hot water rises to the top and the cooler water sinks to the bottom.

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What is an example of radiation?

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An example of radiation is feeling the warmth of the sun on your skin.

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How does insulation work?

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Insulation works by reducing the transfer of heat between objects. It traps air, which is a poor conductor of heat, helping to keep warm air in during winter and cool air in during summer.

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What happens to warm air in convection?

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In convection, warm air rises because it is less dense than cooler air.

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What happens to cool air in convection?

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In convection, cool air sinks because it is denser than warm air.

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What is the role of density in convection?

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Density plays a key role in convection; warmer, less dense fluids rise, while cooler, denser fluids sink, creating a cycle.