Thermal Energy Transfer

Convection, Conduction,
Radiation

Getting Energy
All energy on Earth
comes from the Sun,
but there are three
different ways things
can get the energy
once it is here.

Three Forms of Thermal

(Heat) Transfer

Radiation - transferred through space (does

not need a material medium)
Conduction - the transfer of heat through
direct contact or touch
Convection transfer of heat as molecules
move in currents

THERMAL ENERGY always moves in the

direction of from the warmer area to the
colder area.

Radiation heat is
transferred through space

Radiation
SOLAR -

Energy travels
from the sun in
electromagnetic waves.
These waves are absorbed
by the things on earth.

The solar radiation

heats the surface
of the earth.

Conduction - Heat is transferred to air

molecules that come in direct contact with
the ground.

The air touching the

ground is warmed
through conduction.

Conduction is when
heat is transferred
by direct contact or

Conduction - the transfer of

heat through direct contact in a
metal rod:

When a lizard basks on a rock in the desert

to warm its body, the thermal energy in
the rock is transferred to the lizard
through conduction or direct contact!

As the
air
becomes
less
dense it
rises
2. Air is warmed by conduction

1. Ground warmed by radiation

Energy causes weather experienced on Earth...

2. Then it
falls back
to the
Earth as it
cools.

3. Cooler air
is pulled in
from other
places

1.As the air

heat up
it rises
into the
atmosphe
re

CONVECTION!!!

Do you
know what
this is
called?

The atmosphere is
warmed through
convection.

4. Convection:
Rising air spreads
heat throughout the
atmosphere in
currents.

3. As
the air
becomes

less
dense it
rises

2. Air is warmed by conduction

1. Ground warmed by radiation

Convection transfer of heat

as molecules move in
currents

Convection

Warmer Air

The transfer of heat by the

movement of warm matter.
EX: Heat leaves the coffee cup as
the currents of steam and air rise.

Consider This: convection is

responsible for making
macaroni rise and fall in a pot
of heated water. The warmer
portions of the water are less
dense and therefore, they rise.
Meanwhile, the cooler portions
of the water fall because they
are denser.

Cooler Air

Questions:

CONVECTION IN LIQUID:

Which way does the warmed water move ?

What happens when it reaches the surface?
Which way does the cooler water on the edges move?
Is warmer water denser or less dense than cooler
water? Are the water molecules moving faster or slower
in warmer water?

Explanation:

Heat can transfer in 3 ways:

Critical Questions:
1.

2.

3.

What are the three types of heat

transfer?
How is conduction different from
convection?
What type of heat transfer is involved
in:
Heating a room with a fireplace
Egg cooking in a frying pan
Roof of a house becoming hot

Videos:
click to open the link, then view video in full screen mode.
Bill Nye Heat: Part one
http://www.gamequarium.org/cgi-bin/search/linfo.cgi?id
=7913
Bill Nye Heat: Part three
http://www.gamequarium.org/cgi-bin/search/linfo.cgi?id
=7915
Bill Nye Heat: Part two
http://www.gamequarium.org/cgi-bin/search/linfo.cgi?id
=7914