Chapter 11
Thermal energy transfers
Heat transfer
ermal energy transfers from a hotter place to a colder place t
higher temperature to a lower temperature.
ermal energy requires a temperature difference if it is to be
ferred.
Various ways of Heat transfer
Conduction
Conduction is the process by which heat is transferred
through a material without the material itself moving.
Thermal conductors: A substance that
conducts
thermal energy.
Thermal insulators: A substance that
conducts
Very little thermal energy.
Conduction
Metals have higher thermal conductivity
than wood, meaning they transfer heat
faster.
When you touch a metal object, heat is
removed from your hand faster than your
body can replace it.
Conduction in metals and nonmetals
Atoms at the hotter ends vibrates
faster and collide with their Many of the electrons in
neighbours. metallic conductors are free to
move (they are delocalised).
This process results in sharing of
energy with its neighbouring atoms. These are the particles which carry
thermal energy as they get
The collision gradually transfer hot and move through the metal.
energy from the atoms at the hot end
to those at the cold end.
Convection
Liquid and gases are not usually good conductors of thermal energy.
The thermal energy transfer in liquid and gases occur by means of convection.
Convection is the transfer of heat from hotter region to colder region through the movement
of a fluid or gas.
Convection results from the expansion of a fluid when
it is heated.
This means density decreases.
The less dense fluid/water/gases is lighter and so mov
upward.
The colder fluid which is more dense flows in to repla
Convection
Sea Breeze Land Breeze
Convection current at work
onvection current helps to share energy between warm and cold places
electric heater is on the thermal energy will be moving around the roo
heater because of convection current.
Radiation
Radiation is the transfer of thermal energy through
electromagnetic waves, without the need for a medium.
The thermal radiation can travel through vacuum.
Radiation
Earth receives energy from the sun in the
form of heat (infrared radiation) and light
( visible and ultraviolet radiation).
All objects emit infrared radiation.
Hotter the object , more is the infrared
radiation it gives out.
Infrared radiation travels in straight line
and is invisible to naked eyes.
It can be detected by our nerve cells in the
skin and temperature sensitive camera.
Good absorbers and good emitters
Black objects are good absorbers and emitters of thermal
radiation, while shiny objects are poor absorbers and
emitters.
Shiny objects are poor absorbers and emitters.
Black objects are good at absorbing thermal radiation
because they absorb all wavelengths of light and convert
them into heat.
They are also good at emitting thermal radiation.
Factors affecting infrared radiation
Temperature: Hotter objects emit more infrared
radiation.
Surface area: Larger surface areas emit more radiation.
Colour: Darker colours are better at absorbing and
emitting infrared radiation.
Surface texture: More textured surfaces are better at
absorbing and emitting infrared radiation.
Surface finish: Matt surfaces are better at absorbing and
emitting infrared radiation, while shiny surfaces are
better at reflecting infrared radiation.
Consequences of thermal energy transfer
Know about conduction, convection and
radiation can help us to design effective
insulation.
Home insulation
A well insulated house can avoid a lot of
energy wastage during cold weather.
Insulation can also prevent the house from
becoming uncomfortably hot during the
Warm weather.
ick curtains and draught excluders
Stop convection current and so
prevent thermal Energy transfer
oft and underfloor insulation
Reduces heat loss
by adding insulating
materials beneath
the ground floor.
Cavity walls and foam in wall
cavity
Reduces thermal energy loss o
gain by conduction and
Convection.
Double and triple glazing are both
used to reduce heat loss and
increase energy efficiency in
windows.
Keeping cool
Air is removed from the gap between the
double walls, creating a vacuum.
This reduces losses by conduction and
convection because both need a
material to travel through.
The silver coating on the glass reduces
losses by radiation by reflecting any
infrared radiation.
The stopper is made of plastic, and it
prevents losses by convection and
evaporation.
Thermal energy transfer, climate and weather
