Have you been to the beach on a summer

day? How do you feel playing under the

sun? A summer in the beach is an
experience with the different forms of
energy. So, for today’s lesson we will
discuss about Energy and Heat.
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Science defines energy as the ability to do
work. It allows us to perform different
activities. The energy you get from the food
you eat enables you to play, run, study, do
household chores, and many more. Cars get
energy from fuels like gasoline. And our
appliances at home run by the energy it
gets from electricity.
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On Earth, sun is the primary source of
energy. The heat and light from the sun is
called solar energy. The energy of the sun
gives power to many processes of nature,
like the photosynthesis and water cycle.
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How about Heat?
Heat is a form of energy associated with
fast and continuous movements of tiny
particles in matter called molecules. Heat is
also the transfer of energy from one object
to another. For example, the particles of the
burning logs in a campfire possess high
energy that is being transferred to the
environment that’s why you feel the heat
coming from the fire. Heat flows from a
warmer body to a cooler body.
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Heat may be transferred in three ways:
conduction, convection, and radiation.
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Conduction is the transfer of heat between
particles that are touching or in contact
with each other. It takes place in solid
materials. For example, in ironing clothes,
the ironing board becomes hot. The heat
from the flat iron transfers to the clothes
and the board. The metal at the bottom of
a flat iron is called conductors. Conductors
are materials that allow heat energy to be
transferred within them.
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How about the Convection?
Convection happens in gas or liquid. It is a
heat transfer by mass motion or the up and
down movement of gasses and liquids.
When you are boiling water, the heat from
the casserole is transferred to the water at
the bottom. The hot water moves up while
the cold water above sinks. The continuous
rising and sinking of water forms a
convection current.
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How is a microwave oven able to cook food
uniformly when the source of heat is only in
the upper part of the oven? The heat goes
around inside the oven, heating everything
inside. This method of heat transfer is called
Radiation. Heat transfer by radiation does
not have any medium. The sun heats Earth
by radiation. The sun is hundred million
kilometres away from Earth and yet, we feel
its warm.