TRANSFER OF THERMAL ENERGY

The transfer of heat energy normally occurs from a region of higher temperature to one of lower
temperature. This process changes the thermal energy of both systems involved until thermal
equilibrium is reached.

Heat energy is transferred from one place to the next by three mechanisms:
 Conduction
 Convection
 Radiation

CONDUCTION
Conduction is the heat transfer within a material without any
shift of the material as a whole. It always occurs in solids.
 The particles that are heated will vibrate.
 Vibration is passed on from one particle to the next.

Conduction in metals
 Positively charged metal ions are packed closely together, and they vibrate continually. The
hotter the metal, the more kinetic energy these vibrations have.

 This kinetic energy is also transferred from hot parts of the metal to cooler parts by free electrons
which move through the structure of the metal, colliding with ions as they go.

Conductors vs Insulators
Metals are good conductors of heat. On touching a metal, the heat from one’s hand is conducting
away thus giving a cold sensation.

Insulators are poor conductors of heat, for example plastic, wood, air and water.
 Experiment to Demonstrate the Difference in Conduction of Metals

The experiment is set up as shown in the diagram using

identical size metal rods and equal volumes of Vaseline.
The time taken for the pin to fall will give an indication
as to the conductivity of the metals.

Experiment to Demonstrate that Water is Poor Conductor of Heat

The boiling tube is set up as shown. The metal gauze is used

to prevent the ice from floating. When the top layer of the
water is heated, the ice will not melt completely.

CONVECTION
Convection is the transfer of heat energy via the bulk movement of a fluid from one area to another. This
movement is brought about by changes in density of the medium.

 Fluids expand when they are heated (particles move faster and take up more space).
 The hot fluid in is less dense than cold fluid, so it rises.
 The denser cold fluid sinks and replaces the hot fluids.

Convection in liquids can be shown in water by dropping A laboratory demonstration of convection currents in
a few crystals of potassium permanganate down a tube to air can be given using the apparatus shown. The
the bottom of a beaker of water. When the beaker is heated direction of the convection current created by the
just below the crystals, purple streaks of water rise upwards candle is made visible by the smoke from the paper.
and fan outwards.
Land and Sea Breezes

RADIATION
Radiation is the heat transfer without the presence of any medium that is it can occur in vacuum. Heat
flows from one place to another by means of electromagnetic waves, mostly of infrared type. When an
object emits infrared rays, it loses heat energy. When an object absorbs infrared rays, it gains heat
energy.

Good and bad absorbers and emitters:

All bodies emit or absorb radiation. However
 Dull black surfaces are better absorbers of radiation than white and shiny surfaces.
 Dull black surfaces are better emitter of radiation than the shiny one.
 Larger the surface area, the greater the degree of heat absorption and emission

This experiment is called Leslie's Cube. 

o Ho
t

water is poured into the cube, and heat passes from the
sides by radiation,
o Radiation is detected by a thermopile which is
connected to a galvanometer
o The more infrared given out, the greater the current
reading on the galvanometer. 
 
THE VACUUM FLASK
The vacuum flask or thermos keeps your food or drink hot or cold. It was designed in such a way to keep
heat from escaping from the hot contents to its surroundings or to prevent heat transferring from the
surroundings heating up the cold contents. Heat is transferred by conduction, convection and radiation
so the flask was designed to reduce heat transfer by these three methods.

or convection.

THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT & GLOBAL WARMING

How a Greenhouse Works

 Light and short-wavelength infrared radiation from the Sun penetrate
the glass of a greenhouse and are absorbed by the soil and plants.
 These in turn emit infrared radiation that has a long wavelength and
cannot penetrate the glass.
 The heat therefore remains trapped in the greenhouse and its
temperature rises.

The Greenhouse Effect on Planet Earth

The earth functions as a greenhouse while the carbon dioxide
layer in the atmosphere functions as a glass. Other greenhouse
gases include water vapor, methane and nitrous oxide.

The heat energy remains trapped within the atmosphere resulting

in global warming.
Effects of Global Warming
 Arctic ice will melt sooner and faster and won’t be as thick or expansive when it reforms.
 The oceans will warm and cause sea levels to rise more quickly, which can cause flooding on land.
 The water cycle speeds up, causing more rain, droughts, wildfires and extreme heat waves.

THE SOLAR WATER HEATER

Solar panels are used to heat up water. They are often located on the roofs of buildings, where they can
receive heat energy from the Sun.
 Cold water from the storage tank enters the solar panel.
 The water is heated by energy from the Sun in the solar collector.
 The hot water (with lower density moves) upwards to the tank.

FEATURE OF THE SOLAR WATER HEATING SYSTEM THERMAL ENERGY PRINCIPLE DEMONSTRATED

Good absorption of heat

Heat transfer by convection

The greenhouse effect

Good heat transfer by conduction

Reduction of heat transfer by conduction

 PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1) In each of the following situations, identify the method of heat transfer taking place.

a) You are stirring a bowl of hot soup with a metal spoon. The spoon starts to feel warmer because
of ______________________.

b) You buy a lava lamp from the store. As the lamp heats up, blobs of liquid rise to the top then sink
back down to the bottom. This process continues because of ______________________.

c) You are doing your homework at a desk that is underneath a lamp. You start to feel hotter
because of ______________________ from the lamp.

d) Your best friend has a bunk bed. You move from the bottom bunk to the top bunk and notice that
the air is warmer. The warm air rises because of _________________.

e) You are in science class and want to see if the hot plates were used recently. You place your hand
over the hot plate. Without touching the hot plate, your hand feels warmer. Heat is transferred to
your hand by ______________________.

f) You are roasting marshmallows at a campfire. The metal skewer (stick) that you’re cooking your
marshmallow on burns your hand because of _______________________.

2) June 2017 P2 Q5a

Four factors of the surface of a material on which the absorption and emission of radiation depend are:
 Texture (rough or smooth)
 Nature (dull or shiny)
 Colour (black or white)
 Area (large or small)

State, with a reason, the appropriate characteristics of TWO of the above factors in the design of
i) a car radiator [3]
 ii) the roof of a Caribbean home. [3]

3) June 2007 P2 Q 3a
The figure shows a shiny kettle which is placed on a gas stove to heat the water inside it.

(i) By what process is heat transferred to the water through the kettle? (1 mark)

(ii) Explain why kettles are usually shiny on the outside. (1 mark)

(iii) How does the cover prevent heat losses? (2marks)

4) June 2021 P2 Q 4 c
Blocks X and Y in the figure are identical except for their temperatures.

i) Explain the difference in the motion of the particles in Block X compared

to the motion of the particles in Block Y. [2]

ii) In which direction would energy be transferred? [1]

iii) State the condition under which the transfer of thermal energy would cease. [1]
 MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

1) 2)

3) 4)

5)
6)

7. Two different objects are in thermal contact with one another. The objects are at different
temperatures. The temperatures of the two objects determine

(a) the process by which thermal energy is transferred.

(b) the heat capacity of each object.
(c) the direction of transfer of thermal energy between the objects.
(d) the amount of internal energy in each object.
8. The sun continuously radiates energy into space, some of which is intercepted by the earth.
The average temperature of the surface of the earth remains about 300 K. Why doesn’t the
earth’s temperature rise as it intercepts the sun’s energy?
(a) The earth reflects the sun’s light.
(b) The earth radiates an amount of energy into space equal to the amount it receives.
(c) The energy only raises the temperature of the upper atmosphere and never reaches the surface.
(d) The thermal conductivity of the earth is low.
(e) The heat is carried away from the earth by convection currents.

9. Thermal energy may be transferred

I. in a fluid as a result of density changes of the fluid.
II. in a non-metallic substance as a result of lattice vibrations.

Which of the following correctly identifies each of these energy transfers?

Transfer I Transfer II
A. Convection Convection
B. Evaporation Convection
C. Convection Conduction
D. Evaporation Conduction

10. Suppose you are sitting next to a fireplace in which there is a fire burning. One end of a metal
poker has been left in the fire. Which one of the following statements concerning this situation
is true?
(a) You can feel the heat of the fire primarily because of convection.
(b) The end of the poker that is not in the fire is warmed through conduction.
(c) Heat escapes through the chimney primarily through conduction.
(d) You can feel the heat of the fire primarily because of conduction.
(e) The end of the poker that is not in the fire is warmed through convection.

11. Complete the following statement: The interior of a thermos bottle is silvered to minimize heat
transfer due to
(a) radiation.
(b) conduction.
(c) conduction and convection.
(d) conduction and radiation.
(e) conduction, convection, and radiation.

12. The diagram below shows a room in a house fitted with an electric
heater used to heat the room.
By which processes is the room heated when the heater is in operation?
(a) Convection only
(b) Radiation only
electric h eater
(c) Radiation and convection
(d) Radiation and conduction