Conduction, Convection and Radiation

Front

What is conduction?

Back

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, like when a metal spoon gets hot in a pot of soup.

Front

What is convection?

Back

Convection is the transfer of thermal energy through the movement of fluids (liquids or gases). It happens when warmer, less dense fluid rises and cooler, denser fluid sinks, creating a circulation pattern, like boiling water.

Front

What is radiation?

Back

Radiation is the transfer of 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.

Front

Example of conduction in everyday life?

Back

An example of conduction is when you touch a hot stove and feel the heat transfer to your hand.

Front

Example of convection in cooking?

Back

An example of convection in cooking is when hot air rises in an oven, allowing food to cook evenly.

Front

Example of radiation in nature?

Back

An example of radiation in nature is how the sun warms the Earth through solar radiation.

Front

What is thermal energy?

Back

Thermal energy is the total energy of all the particles in an object, related to its temperature.

Front

How does insulation work?

Back

Insulation works by reducing the transfer of heat between objects, keeping heat in or out, like in a thermos.

Front

What happens to particles during conduction?

Back

During conduction, particles in a hotter object vibrate faster and transfer their energy to slower-moving particles in a cooler object.

Front

What happens to fluids during convection?

Back

During convection, warmer fluids rise and cooler fluids sink, creating a cycle that transfers heat.