Transfer of thermal

energy
Physics Notes
GCE Study Buddy
Transfer of thermal energy or heat
• Thermal energy or heat flows from a place of
higher temperature to a place of lower
temperature
• The 3 ways in which heat may be transferred are:
• Conduction
• Convection
• radiation
Heat transfer
Conduction
• Conduction is the process whereby heat is transmitted
through a medium from one particle to another without
any flow of the material medium.
• There are 2 methods whereby conduction can take place,
namely:
• Collisions between neighbouring particles, and
• Flow of free electrons (for heat conductors only)
• Therefore, conductors are able to transmit heat faster as
both mechanisms above take place at the same time,
whereas insulators can transmit heat only through
collisions between particles.
Conduction
Conduction: Collisions between
neighbouring particles
• Particles nearer to heat source gain energy and vibrate
faster.
• Particles collide into less energetic neighbouring
particles which gains kinetic energy.
• The less energetic particles vibrate faster, collides into
other particles.
• Process continues layer by layer to spread the heat to
cooler parts.
Conduction: Flow of free electrons
• Electrons near heat source gain energy and move
faster.
• Free electrons can move between the particles and
collide with other electrons, allowing the less energetic
electrons to gain energy and move faster.
• This process continues to spread the heat to cooler
parts.
Conduction in solids/liquids/gas
• In liquids and especially gases, particles are relatively far
apart and collisions between them are less frequent
despite their more vigorous vibrations of larger amplitudes
• Hence, the conduction of heat through liquids and gases
is very much slower as compared to that of solids
Convection
• Convection is the process whereby where heat is
transmitted from one place to another by the movement of
heated particles of a gas or liquid.
• It is the main mode of heat transfer in fluids.
• The main mechanism of convection is the change in density of
liquids.
Convection: mechanism of action
• Fluid nearer to heat source gains heat and expands.
• Expansion causes decrease in density for the fluid nearer to
heat source, causing it to rise.
• The hotter fluid rises over the cooler fluid while the cooler
fluid rushes in to take the space.
• The process continues and a convection current is formed.
• Convection is faster than conduction as there is bulk
movement (all the molecules get hot and move up, thus it is
faster than conduction.
• To form a convection current
• Heating elements are usually placed at the bottom to heat the air so as
to make it rise make the cool air sinks for it to be heated.
• Cooling elements are placed at the top to allow the air cooled by the
element to sink and allow the warm air to move up and be cooled.
Convection current in boiling water
Sea breeze and land breeze
• Sea breezes and
Land breezes are
also caused by
convection
currents.
Radiation
• Radiation is a method of heat transfer whereby
the source of heat transmits energy in the form of
electromagnetic waves without the aid of a
medium.
• Radiation acts in all directions.
• An object that is a good emitter of radiation is also a
good absorber of radiation.
Radiation – factors affecting rate
• There are several factors which affect the
emission or absorption of radiation of an object:
• Temperature of the object: The higher the
temperature the more radiation it emits.
• Surface of the object: Dark and Dull surfaces tend to
be good radiators of radiation.
• Surface area of the object: Objects with a larger
surface area will emit infrared radiation at a higher rate.
Applications of thermal heat
transfer
• Good conductors of heat:
• Used when thermal energy has to be transferred quickly through a
substance.
• Cooking Utensils: Kettles and Saucepans are usually made of metal where
direct heating is involved.
• Bad conductors of Heat (Insulators):
• Used when loss of thermal energy is minimized.
• Handles of appliances and utensils: Saucepans, kettles and teapot
handles are made of plastics to ensure that we can carry the
appliance without scalding our hands.
• Snow: The Eskimos build their igloos from snow as snow reduces
heat loss by conduction (snow is a poor conductor of heat).
• Sawdust: Used to cover ice blocks due to its good insulating
property.
Common applications of convection
• Electric Kettles:
• The heating coil is placed at the bottom of the kettle to aid
transfer of thermal energy in water by convection.
• Household hot water systems
• Air conditioners:
• It is installed near the ceiling of a room to facilitate setting
up of convection currents.
• As cool air is denser, it sinks and the warm air is drawn
into the air – con where it is cooled.
Common applications of radiation
• Teapots:
• Shiny teapots can keep tea warm for a longer time compared to
black teapots.
• Greenhouses:
• A greenhouse is used in cold climates to help plants grow better
by trapping infrared radiation.
•
 Vacuum Flasks
• The vacuum flask is designed
to keep liquids hot by
minimizing heat loss in 4 ways:
• Conduction, convection,
evaporation: Stopper is made of
plastic which is a poor conductor of
heat, it prevents heat loss through
convection and evaporation.
• Conduction and Convection
through the sides of the flask is
prevented by the vacuum between
the double – glass walls of the flask.
• Radiation: Heat loss is harder to stop
as radiant heat can pass through a
vaccum.
Questions
1. Heat is conducted through a plastic rod by
a. Collisions of molecules in random motion
b. Collisions of vibrating molecules
c. Convection currents
d. Radiation

2. Air-conditioned rooms are cooled by

a. Conduction
b. Convection
c. Conduction and convection
d. Convection and radiation
Questions
3. Convection currents in a liquid are due to
a.Mass
b.Volume
c.Density
d.Conductivity

4. Radiation is the process of heat transfer by

a.Gamma rays
b.X-rays
c.UV rays
d.Infra-red rays