Physics 5054 /O level /Handouts/Topic-9/Transfer of Thermal Energy

Topic-9: Transfer of Thermal Energy

Heat transferred from one place to other place as a result of a difference in temperature via thermal
conduction, convection and radiation.
Thermal energy flows from higher temperature to lower temperature object. However, this heat
exchange will stop when both objects reach thermal equilibrium. (same temperature)
Conduction: Conduction is the transfer of thermal energy from one place to another without any flow of
the material medium.
 Metals are good thermal conductors. Non-metals (plastics, wood etc) are poor thermal
conductors.
 Conduction typically requires the objects to be in physical contact with one another.
Mechanisms of conduction:
Atomic Collisions

 In solids, atoms or molecules vibrate about their fixed position. In a hotter region, atoms or
molecules vibrate more vigorously or have more kinetic energy than those in the colder region.
 These molecules collide with their neighbours and transfer some of their kinetic energy to them.
The neighbours collide with their neighbours. In this way, heat is conducted to colder regions and
raised the temperature.
 This is a very slow process.
 Solids conduct heat better than liquids and gases due to their closely packed molecules.

Free Electron Diffusion

 On top of atomic collisions, most metals are known as thermal conductors due to their huge
number of free electrons available for thermal conduction. The migration of fast-moving electrons
is known as free electron diffusion.
 In solid thermal insulators, the absence of free electrons restricts thermal conduction to the
vibrations of atoms and molecules within the crystal lattices.
 This is a very quick process.

Good Conductors: The material which have number of free electrons. e.g. metals

Poor Conductors: The material which have no free electrons. e.g. wood, plastic and water.

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Experiment of conduction:

 Use four different material rods of same dimensions connected with a tank.
 Coat the rods outside with wax
 Pour boiling water into the bath, so that ends of rods are submerged.
 Observe the lengths of wax that have melted on the different rods in given time interval.
 The rod with longest melted wax is good conductor.
Consequences of conduction:
 Trapping of air to use as insulation (poor conductor)
 Different sensation from good and bad conductors of heat
Applications of Conductions:
 Use of good conductor of heat. e.g. cooking utensils, kettles and saucepans
 Use of bad conductors of heat. e.g. handles of saucepans, kettles, table mats and teapots
Convection: Convection is the transfer of thermal energy from one place to another by means of fluid
movement in the material medium.
In fluids, thermal energy transfer is mainly through thermal convection. In solids, since its substance
cannot flow, there can be no thermal convection.

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Mechanism of convection: In convection, the movement occurs as a result of gravity. The hot part of the
fluid expands, becomes less dense and rises. It is displaced by the colder, denser part of the fluid, which in
turn is heated up. This fluid movement or convection current allows heat to be transported.

Convection current: A convection current is the movement of fluid caused by the change in densities in
various parts of the fluid

Experiment of Convection:

 Fill the flask with water

 Place some potassium permanganate crystals at
bottom of flask.
 Place a Bunsen burner with a small flame under
the flask and observe the crystals.
 The purple steams of water are seen to rise
vertically upwards in centre of the flask of liquid
and sink again along the sides of the flask.

Consequences of convection:

 Formation of sea breeze and land breeze

 Convection currents in a room

Applications of convection:

In a refrigerator, convection is used to circulate cold air around the food. Air is cooled by freezer
compartment at the top of refrigerator. As it sinks, it is replaced by warmer air rising from below. The
circulating air carries away heat energy from all the food in the fridge. Electric kettles, Air-conditioners are
also applications of convection.

Radiations: Radiation is the transfer of thermal energy from one place to another by means
of electromagnetic radiation, without any aid of material medium.

All matters radiate thermal energy in all directions in amounts determined by their temperature, where
the energy is carried by photons (energy packets), such as the infrared, visible and X-ray portions of
the electromagnetic spectrum. These photons warm up anything that absorbs them.

Radiation is the only process that does not need a medium to transfer the energy.
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Factors affecting the rate of radiation:

Colour ( Black or white and texture (dull or shiny) of surface

Black, matt surfaces are good in both absorbing and emitting radiation.
Shiny or polished white surfaces are poor absorbers because they act better as reflectors, and hence,
poor emitters.

Surface temperature
The hotter the object, the more energy it radiates

Surface area
The grater the area, the more energy it radiates.

Consequences of radiations:

 Colour and texture of clothing

 Skin cancer

Applications of radiation

The greenhouse effect provides a means to grow plants that need a warm environment in cold countries.
Short infrared radiation from the sun passes easily though the glass panels of a greenhouse, and is
absorbed by the plants and soil inside. The plants in turn also radiate energy, but with a much longer
wavelength. This radiation is reflected by the glass panels. Thus the temperature inside the greenhouse
increases until it reaches a thermal equilibrium suitable for plants to grow.

A layer of aluminium sheet is placed below the roof tiles to keep the air temperature inside the building
steady. In the day, the aluminium sheet reflects the radiation and keeps the building cooler. In the night,
it reduces emitting radiation from the inside and keeps the interior warm .

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Difference between Good absorbers and emitters and Bad absorbers and emitters

Transfer of heat to and from a room

Heat is lost through

Roof, windows, gaps around the door, walls and floor

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Heat energy is transferred from homes by conduction through the walls, floor, roof and windows. It is also
transferred from homes by convection. For example, cold air can enter the house through gaps in doors
and windows, and convection currents can transfer heat energy in the loft to the roof tiles. Heat energy
also leaves the house by radiation through the walls, roof and windows.
Ways to reduce heat loss:
There are some simple ways to reduce heat loss, including fitting carpets, curtains and draught excluders.
Heat loss through windows can be reduced using double glazing. The gap between the two panes of glass
is filled with air. Heat loss through conduction is reduced, as air is a poor conductor of heat. Heat transfer
by convection currents is also reduced by making the gap is very narrow.
Heat loss through walls can be reduced using cavity wall insulation. This involves blowing insulating
material into the gap between the brick and the inside wall, which reduces the heat loss by conduction.
The material also prevents air circulating inside the cavity, therefore reducing heat loss by convection.
Heat loss through the roof can be reduced by laying loft insulation. This works in a similar way
to cavity wall insulation.

Exam Style Questions:

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