Conduction,
Convection, and
Radiation
Essential Questions:
1. What methods can be used to
demonstrate thermal energy
transfers?
2. What are conduction,
convection, and radiation,
including examples?
Conduction, Convection and Radiation
Thermal (heat) Energy
• Energy that is generated
by a source and
measured by heat
• Can be transferred
• Examples
•Kinetic energy
•Chemical energy
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Conduction, Convection and Radiation
3 Ways Thermal Energy
can be Transferred
• Conduction
• Convection
• Radiation
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Conduction, Convection and Radiation
Conduction
• The movement of heat
or electricity through
matter
• Solids are good
conductors, particularly
metals.
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Conduction, Convection and Radiation
Convection
• The transfer of thermal
energy though a fluid
(gas or liquid)
• Due to differences in
density
• Hot fluid rises while cold
fluid sinks.
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Red (hot) rises
Blue (cold) sinks
Conduction, Convection and Radiation
Radiation
• Energy transmitted in waves or a stream of
particles
• Travels through space and other types of
matter
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Conduction, Convection and Radiation
Examples of Conduction –
(direct contact)
• Touching a metal spoon in a
cup of hot liquid
• Putting a heating pad on your
back
• Feeling the heat from a hot
poker in a fire place
• Placing a hand on top of a
basket of hot rolls
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Conduction, Convection and Radiation
Examples of Convection –
(hot rising/cold sinking)
• Macaroni rising and falling in a pot
of boiling water
• Lava lamp rising and sinking
• Hot magma rising in the mantle,
cold sinking
• Hot air rising in the atmosphere,
cold sinking
• Hot water rising in the oceans,
cold sinking
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Red (hot) rises
Blue (cold) sinks
Conduction, Convection and Radiation
Examples of Radiation (waves or particles of
energy)
• Laying out in the sun at a
beach
• Holding your hand over a
burning match without
touching it
• Feeling the warmth of a bonfire
• Holding your hands over a light
bulb
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Conduction, Convection and Radiation
Stop and Reflect
With a partner come up with two other
examples for conduction, convection, and
radiation.
Share with your class.
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Conduction, Convection, and Radiation
Can you…
1. Demonstrate a way
to explain thermal
energy transfers?
2. Define conductions,
convection and
radiation and give
examples?
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