Conduction, Convection, & Radiation

Front

What is conduction?

Back

Conduction is the transfer of heat 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.

Front

What is convection?

Back

Convection is the transfer of heat through the movement of fluids (liquids or gases). It occurs when warmer, less dense fluid rises and cooler, denser fluid sinks, creating a circulation pattern, like warm air rising in a room.

Front

What is radiation?

Back

Radiation is the transfer of heat in the form of 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 hold an ice cube in your hand, and it melts due to the heat from your hand being transferred to the ice.

Front

Example of convection in everyday life?

Back

An example of convection is when you boil water in a pot; the hot water rises to the top while cooler water sinks to the bottom, creating a circular motion.

Front

Example of radiation in everyday life?

Back

An example of radiation is feeling the warmth of the sun on your skin or the heat from a campfire.

Front

What happens to air when it is heated?

Back

When air is heated, it becomes less dense and rises, while cooler air, being denser, sinks. This process is part of convection.

Front

How does a furnace heat a room?

Back

A furnace heats a room primarily through convection, as warm air from the furnace rises and circulates throughout the room.

Front

What is the role of density in convection?

Back

Density plays a crucial role in convection; warmer fluids are less dense and rise, while cooler fluids are denser and sink, creating a convection current.

Front

What is thermal equilibrium?

Back

Thermal equilibrium is the state reached when two objects in contact with each other reach the same temperature, resulting in no net heat transfer between them.