HEAT TRANSFER:

Convection, Conduction and

Radiation
 CONDUCTION
• Heat energy can move through a substance by
conduction.
• Conduction is the transfer of thermal energy
through direct contact between particles
of a substance, without moving the particles t
o a new location
• When heat is supplied to one end, molecules
at that end start to move more quickly
• In the process, they bump into their
neighbors, transferring the kinetic energy
 GOOD AND BAD CONDUCTORS
• Metals are generally good conductors of heat

• Non-metals and gases are usually poor

conductors of heat, also called insulators.
 How is heat transferred?
• Good conductors are those materials whose
electrons can leave their atoms and move
about freely. Metals, for example are
considered to be good conductors of heat
because their electrons are able to move
freely around the metal. The parts of the
metal left behind will then be charged metal
ions.
 …ions!
• Ions are close together and continually
vibrate. The hotter the metal, the more kinetic
energy these vibrations have.

• Kinetic energy is transferred by the free

electrons from hot parts of the metal to cooler
parts. These move through the structure of
the metal, colliding with ions as they go.
 Examples
Good conductors of heat are:
-copper
-aluminium
-platinum
-gold
-silver
-water
-people and animals
-trees
 Examples
Insulators (materials through which heat does
not transfer):
-plastic
-wood
-glass
-porcelain
-rubber
Diagram
 Convention

• Convection is the transfer of thermal energy, which

moves particles from one place to another.
• Convection relies on the circulating motion of
molecules to transfer heat.
• Convection’s heat transfer moves from hot to cold
areas.
• Convection is more likely to be found in liquids or
gases.
How is heat transferred? (with example)
– The hot radiator transfers heat to the nearby air when air molecules
collide with the radiator surface.
– The hot air near to the radiator expands and increases in volume. Hot
air expands because the particles move further apart as they get hotter
– This makes the density of the hot air decrease and it starts to rise
upwards
– The colder air above it gets pushed along to the right and then
circulates as shown by the arrows
– The arrows show how the convention current move
– As the hot air moves around the room, it loses its heat by collision with
the walls, ceiling and the objects in the room
– Finally the colder air circulates near to the radiator where it is heated
and the whole process repeats itself.
Diagram
 RADIATION
• The energy that comes from a source and
travels through material or space.
• Light, heat and sound are types of radiation.
• Radiation can produce charged particles (ions)
in matter.
• Examples of radiation is the heat from the sun,
or heat released from the filament of a light
bulb.
 How is heat transferred?
• Radiation is a method of heat transfer that
does not rely upon any contact between the
heat source and the heated object as is the
case with conduction and convection.
• Heat can be transmitted through empty space
by thermal radiation often called infrared
radiation. This is a type of electromagnetic
radiation. No mass is exchanged and no
medium is required in the process of radiation.
Diagram
Examples of Radiation
• Infrared light
• Microwaves
• Low frequency waves
• Radio waves
• Waves produced by mobile phones
• Power lines
• Strong magnets
• MRI
• Lasers
• Light bulbs
• Light from the sun
• Remote controls
• Cordless phones
• X-rays
• Sterilization of medical tools
• Nuclear power production
COMPARISON
…CONTINUING COMPARISON
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
• http://schoolworkhelper.net/thermal-energy-
transfer-conduction-convection-radiation/
• http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-
convection.html
• http://www.softschools.com/examples/science/c
onvection_examples/8/
• http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-
radiation.html
• http://www.epa.gov/radiation/understand/