Teacher Instructions
Heat transfer Lesson Instructions
Note It is suggested that this experiment be done on a bright and sunny day on asphalt, (cement
can be used as well) so students will have a better understanding of how heat is transferred.
Students will work in small groups to investigate how heat is transferred from one object to
another. I suggest no more than 4 students to a group.
Materials list
1. Infrared thermometer
2. Thermometer
3. 2 liter bottle
4. Small bottle of baby powder.
5. Aluminum foil
Radiation
1. Students will use an Infrared thermometer gun to measure the temperature of the asphalt.
(Cement will work as well.)
2. Students will record their findings. This will be used later to compare the temperature of
radiant heat to conductive heat. This will help students determine if the asphalt has
transferred heat.
3. Teacher should remind students that sunlight (energy) travels through empty (outer
space) space.
Conduction
1. Students will use an aluminum foil box with a thermometer to measure how heat is
conducted from the asphalt to the air.
2. Cover the inside of the aluminum foil box with aluminum foil to insure that no heat is
radiated from the sun.
3. Attach a thermometer to the inside of the aluminum foil box to measure and record
temperature. (Do not let the thermometer touch the ground.)
4. Remove half of the flap bottom from the end of the box (the thermometer must be
hanging over the portion of the box that is not cut out, so that the heat can be transferred
from the asphalt to the air around the thermometer). See pictures attached below.
5. Place the box in a sunny area to take the temperature without radiant heat. (You may
have to prop up the box if wind is present.) Wait three minutes before removing the
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thermometer to record the temperature. Record your data. Ask students “Why did the
temperature change? What were some of the factors that caused that change?” Students
should describe what happened in their lab notebook.
Convection
1. Students will use a 2-liter soda bottle with the top and bottom cut off so that it is a clear
tube.
2. Have students suspend the tube above the ground. (Use a block of wood under each side
of the tube to lift it off the ground.)
3. Students will squeeze a puff of baby powder (small size works better) under the tube and
observe what happens. Students will observe that heat travels upward and back around
without the presence of wind. Air is constantly moving without the presence of wind.
4. Have the students explain and record why they think the powder traveled in an upward
motion out of the clear tube.
Students will record and explain in writing what they observed in each of the
three situations.
Hang the thermometer over the portion of the box that
is still attached (to block radiant energy from the
asphalt).
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Sample pictures of the experiment.
Conduction
Convection
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