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Method of Heat Transfer

There are three main methods of heat transfer: conduction, convection, and radiation. Conduction involves the transfer of heat through solid materials from warmer to cooler areas without overall movement. Convection involves the transfer of heat through fluids by the movement of the fluid itself. Radiation transfers heat through space using electromagnetic waves and does not require a medium. The greenhouse effect occurs when greenhouse gases in the atmosphere like carbon dioxide trap heat radiating from the Earth's surface, causing global warming.

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Nikki Lorraine
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123 views2 pages

Method of Heat Transfer

There are three main methods of heat transfer: conduction, convection, and radiation. Conduction involves the transfer of heat through solid materials from warmer to cooler areas without overall movement. Convection involves the transfer of heat through fluids by the movement of the fluid itself. Radiation transfers heat through space using electromagnetic waves and does not require a medium. The greenhouse effect occurs when greenhouse gases in the atmosphere like carbon dioxide trap heat radiating from the Earth's surface, causing global warming.

Uploaded by

Nikki Lorraine
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Method of Heat Transfer

Heat can move through all states of matter using different methods. There are three (3) methods
of heat transfer.
These methods are: CONDUCTION, CONVECTION, and RADIATION.

CONDUCTION
This is the flow of heat through SOLID materials from places of higher temperature to places
of lower temperature, without movement of the matter as a whole.

Most metals are good conductors of heat, this is because they have a lot of free electrons. These
are used whenever heat is required to travel quickly through something. Among good conductors
of heat are most metals. Metals contain ‘free electrons’ which flow throughout the metal,
carrying thermal energy. They collide with molecules in the colder part of the metal, transferring
their kinetic energy to those molecules.

Bad conductors (insulators) do not allow heat to pass through it easily. Materials such as wood,
glass, cork, air, plastics and fabrics are bad conductors.

CONVECTION
This is the flow of heat through a FLUID (liquid and gas) from places of higher temperature
to places of lower temperature by movement of the fluid itself.
NB: The movement of this heat in fluids is in the form of CONVECTIONAL CURRENTS. The
change in density if the fluid causes the movement of the medium which carries heat energy with
it.
Convection currents develop when liquid or gas flows away from the source of heat.

RADIATION
This is the flow of heat through a GAS from places of higher temperature to places of lower
temperature by the means of waves.
NB: Radiation does not need a medium for heat energy to travel through. Hence, Radiation can
travel through a vacuum.

Radiation travels as waves. When it falls on an object, it is partly reflected, partly transmitted
and partly absorbed.
NB: The absorbed part raises the temperature of the object.

Radiation is emitted by all bodies above absolute zero and consists mostly of infrared radiation
but light and ultraviolet radiation are also present if the body is very hot.

Prepared by: Mr. L. Adams G.H.S. Physics Notes; Heat Transfer


All objects absorb and emit heat radiation. However, there are certain factors that affect the
emission and absorption of heat. These factors include:
 The texture of the surface: smooth surfaces which reflect heat are poor absorbers of heat.
 The nature if the surface: shiny surfaces reflect heat and are poor absorbers of heat.
 The colour of the surface: white surfaces are poor absorbers while dark surfaces are good
absorbers.
The area of the surface: larger surface areas the greater the heat absorption.

NB:
 Dull black surfaces are better absorbers of radiation than white shiny surfaces.
 Dull black surface is a better emitter of radiation than the shiny one.
 In, general surfaces that are good absorbers of radiation are good emitters when hot.

NB: Solar panels and solar water heaters use matt black surfaces to absorb the radiant heat
energy from the sun.

The Greenhouse Effect on Planet Earth


The increasing use of fossil fuels across the planet has increased the amount of the gas carbon
dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere.
Carbon dioxide and other gases such as methane and nitrous oxide are now known as
‘greenhouse gases’. This is because the increasing amounts of these gases in the Earth’s
atmosphere are acting like the glass of a greenhouse.
Radiant heat from the Sun9short wavelength infrared) is allowed in through the atmosphere and s
absorbed by the surface of the planet.
The infrared re-emitted from the surface of the Earth has a longer wavelength and most of it
cannot penetrate the Earth’s atmosphere, being reflected back to the Earth. In this way, the Sun’s
radiant heat energy becomes trapped on the Earth and cannot escape.
The long-term consequences of the effect are likely to be:
 Global warming and climate change
 Melting of the ice caps and glaciers, causing the sea level to rise.

Prepared by: Mr. L. Adams G.H.S. Physics Notes; Heat Transfer

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