The Transfer

of Heat
 Thermal Energy
• Energy is the ability to make things move or
change.
• All matter (anything with mass that takes up
space) is made up of tiny particles that are
always moving.
• Thermal energy is the energy of the moving
particles. This energy is felt as heat.

Thermal Energy = Heat

 Heat
• Heat ALWAYS moves from a warmer object to
a cooler one. This movement is called heat
transfer.
• As heat moves into an object, it becomes
warmer. As heat moves out of an object, it
becomes cooler.
 Heat Transfer
• When a freshly made cup
of coffee is sitting on a
counter, it will lose heat
because the air around it
is cooler than the coffee.

• When an ice cube is

sitting on a table, the
warmth in the air will
transfer into the ice
cube, melting it.
 Heat Transfer
• There are 3 ways that heat can transfer to
other objects. These methods of transfer are
called conduction, radiation, and convection.
 Conduction
• Conduction is the Examples:

transfer of heat between • Hands are warmed when holding a hot

mug of cocoa
things that are touching.
• A hot stove burner warms a pot sitting
on it.

• When two things that • Can you think of some other examples?
are touching have
different temperatures,
heat will move from the
warmer object to the
cooler one.
 Conductors
• Conductors are objects that allow heat
to move through them easily.

• Metals are good conductors because

they allow heat to move through them
easily. Examples of metals include iron,
silver, copper, aluminum, and stainless
steel.

• For example, if you were at a campfire

and you put a stick in the fire, your
hand would not burn. Wood is not a
good conductor. If you left a metal
spoon in a hot pot on the stove and
held the spoon, your hand would burn.
 Convection
• Convection is the
transfer of thermal Click the picture below for
a convection
energy through liquids demonstration.
or gases.

• Warmer air and water

rises and cooler air
and water sinks. This
creates a convection
current.
 Radiation
• Radiation is the transfer of energy through
electromagnetic waves.
• Radiation from the sun heats objects on Earth.
Heat travels from fire to objects through
radiation as well.
Thermal Energy Review