Heat energy will always flow from an area of high temperature to an area of lower

temperature
Heat Transfer
 The science of how heat flows is called heat transfer.
 Heat flow depends on the temperature difference.
Thermal Equilibrium
 Two bodies are in thermal
equilibrium with each other
when they have the same
temperature.
 In nature, heat always flows
from hot to cold until
thermal equilibrium is
reached.
Heat is a type of energy called thermal energy.

Heat can be transferred (moved) by three main processes:

1. conduction
2. convection
3. radiation
During heat transfer, thermal energy always moves in the same direction:

HOT COLD
Heat energy only flows when there is a temperature difference from a
warmer area to a cooler area.
Heat Conduction
 Conduction is the transfer of heat through materials
by the direct contact of matter.
 Dense metals like copper and aluminum are very good
thermal conductors.
What are Conductors?
 Conductors are materials that allow heat to move
easily through them.
Heat Conduction
 A thermal insulator is a material that conducts heat
poorly.
 Heat flows very slowly through the plastic so that the
temperature of your hand does not rise very much.
What are Insulators?
 Insulators are materials that do not allow heat to move
easily through them.
Why does metal feel colder than wood, if they
are both at the same temperature?

Metal is a conductor, wood is an insulator. Metal conducts the heat

away from your hands. Wood does not conduct the heat away from
your hands as well as the metal, so the wood feels warmer than the
metal.
Conduction
 Heat travels at different speed through different
materials.
wood did not drop
copper 14 s
steel 73 s
aluminium 16 s
What happens a fluid is heated?
Liquids and gases can both flow and behave in similar ways, so they are called
fluids.

What happens to the particles in a fluid when it is heated?

less dense
heat fluid
The heated fluid particles gain energy, so they move about more and spread out.
The same number of particles now
take up more space, so the fluid has become less dense
Water movement

Cools at the Convection

surface current

Cooler water Hot water

sinks rises
Why is convection important in fridges?
Why is the freezer compartment at the top of a fridge?

The freezer compartment is at the top of

a fridge because cool air sinks.

The freezer cools the air at the top and

this cold air cools the food on the way
down.

It is warmer at the bottom of the

fridge.

This warmer air rises and so a

convection current is set up inside the
fridge, which helps to keep the fridge
cool.
How does heat travel through space?
The Earth is warmed by heat energy from the Sun.

How does this heat energy travel from the Sun to the Earth?

?
infrared
waves
There are no particles between the The heat travels to Earth by infrared
Sun and the Earth, so the heat waves. These are similar to light
cannot travel by conduction or by waves and are able to travel through
convection. empty space.
Amount of radiation depends on

1. Surface area
2. Temperature difference
3. Colour and texture
Emitting thermal radiation
All objects emit (give out) some thermal radiation.

Certain surfaces are better at emitting thermal radiation than others.

best emitter worst emitter

matt
white silver
black

Matt black surfaces are the best emitters of radiation.

Shiny surfaces are the worst emitters of radiation.

Which type of kettle would cool down faster: a black kettle or a shiny metallic
kettle?
Absorbing thermal radiation
Infrared waves heat objects that absorb (take in) them.

Certain surfaces are better at absorbing thermal radiation than others. Good
emitters are also good absorbers.

best emitter worst emitter

matt
white silver
black
best absorber worst absorber
Matt black surfaces are the best absorbers of radiation.

Shiny surfaces are the worst emitters because they reflect most of the radiation
away.

Why are solar panels that are used for heating water
covered in a black outer layer?