CHAPTER 11

‘THERMAL
ENERGY
TRANSFER’

PREPARED BY: S. M. NAYEEM

 Conduction
• Conduction is the flow of heat energy from a region of
high temperature to a region of low temperature without
overall movement of the material itself.
• The greater the density of a substance better is the
substance as thermal conductor.
• Particles are most tightly packed in solids and least tightly
packed in gases.
• Solids are better conductors than liquids which are again
better conductors than gases.
• Metals are good conductors than non-metals.
• Metals conduct heat through the vibration of the atoms
and the motion of delocalized electrons but non-metals
conduct heat only through the vibration of atoms.
 Convection
• Convection is the flow of heat energy from a region of
high temperature to a region of low temperature by
movement of a fluid. Convection only occurs in fluids
(liquids and gases).
• Liquids and gases are fluids. They are able to flow.
• Convection occurs when particles of fluid with a lot of
heat energy expand, becomes less dense and rise up and
take the place of particles with less heat energy that are
denser and therefore sinks down.
• Convection current in air causes sea breeze and land
breeze.
• Convection current inside the core of the Earth causes
tectonic plates and thereby the continents to move.
 Radiation
• Radiation is the transfer of heat energy from a region of
high temperature to a region of low temperature by
infrared radiation which a type of electromagnetic wave.
• All hot objects emit thermal energy as radiant heat.
• Unlike conduction and convection, radiation takes place
without the need of any particles.
• Because no particles are involved, radiation can work
through the vacuum of space. This is why we can still feel
the heat of the Sun even though it is 150 million km away
from the Earth.
• Radiation depends on four factors: (i) colour, (ii) texture,
(iii) surface temperature and (iv) surface area.
 Radiation (continued)
• Dull coloured surfaces are good absorbers of heat and
good radiators of heat. They are poor reflectors of heat.
• Radiation depends on four factors: (i) colour, (ii) texture,
(iii) surface temperature and (iv) surface area.
• The surfaces which are good absorbers are also good
emitters of infrared radiation. They are also poor
reflectors of infrared radiation.
• Dull surfaces are better absorbers of thermal energy than
bright surfaces.
• Rough surfaces are better absorbers than shiny surfaces.
• Higher the surface temperature better the emission.
• Larger the surface area better the emission.
 SEA BREEZE & LAND BREEZE
• During day, land heats up • During day, land cools up
faster than sea. faster than sea.
• Air above the land gets • Air above the land gets
warmer than air above the colder than air above the
sea. sea.
• Hot air above land expands • Hot air above sea expands
becomes lighter and rises. becomes lighter and rises.
• Cold dense air above sea • Cold dense air above land
flows towards land forming flows towards sea forming
sea breeze. land breeze.
INVESTIGATING HEAT RADIATION
 INVESTIGATING THERMAL RADIATION
• Apparatus used: Leslie cube, boiling water radiation sensor,
rate meter.
• Method:
(i) Boiling water is poured into Leslie cube and mouth closed by
rubber stopper.
(ii) One infrared detector is placed in front of each faces.
(iii) The distance between cube and detector is kept constant.
(iv) The radiation emitted is received by the detector and
measured by the meter.
(v) The reading from the meter is taken at equal time intervals.
(vi) The readings are used to plot a bar chart of the amount of
radiation emitted against type of surface.
 Summary Of The Observation
Type of Surface Type of Radiator
Dull black Very good radiator

Shiny black Good radiator

Dull white Poor radiator

Shiny silvery Very poor radiator

 DOMESTIC THERMAL HEAT LOSS
Part of the
house Measures taken Method of reduction of heat

Roof Insulation fitted in the Tapped air in the loft reduces heat lost by
loft conduction and convection

Windows Fit double glazing glass Tapped air between glasses reduces heat
windows lost by conduction and convection

Tapped air between glasses reduces heat

Doors Fitting curtains lost by conduction and convection

Walls Fitting insulation in Tapped air in the insulation reduces heat

cavity walls lost by conduction and convection

Trapped air in the carpet reduces heat

Floors Fitting carpet
lost due to convection
 Green House Effect & Global Warming
• Sun sends heat through infrared radiation of high
energy having shorter wavelength.
• The radiation reaches Earth through the
atmosphere.
• Earth warms up and sends then radiates heat out.
• The radiation emitted by Earth has lower energy
having longer energy.
• The radiation emitted cannot pass through the
atmosphere due to presence of carbon dioxide.
• The heat gets trapped and causes global warming.