Ch. 1.

3 Ways of heat transfer

Convection: heat flow due to flow of fluids (liquid or gas)

- Hotter fluid: Expands, less dense
- Cooler fluid: Contracts, denser
- Gravitational effect → Rising hotter fluid and sinking cooler fluid forms a air current,
known as the convection current, stirring up the fluid until reaching thermal equilibrium

Daily examples of making use of convection currents effectively:

1. Heaters should be placed on the floor instead of on the ceiling

- Heated air can rise from the floor to the ceiling
- Convection current: More efficient energy transfer than direct conduction
2. Air conditioners should be placed on the ceiling instead of on the floor
- Cooled air can fall from the ceiling to the floor
- Convection current: More efficient energy transfer than direct conduction

Conduction: heat flow by collision of particles (solid or liquid or gas):

1. Molecular collision
- Molecules with higher average molecular KE cause other molecules to vibrate
faster
- Energy is passed layer by layer
2. Free electron collision
- Some materials with ions have loosely held free electrons
- Free electrons can travel a long distance before collision with other molecules
- More efficient energy transfer compared to molecular collision

Good conductors of heat:

- All metals (silver, copper…), diamond, stainless steel, etc. (presence of free electrons)
Good insulators of heat:
- Plastic, wood, water, air, etc. (lack of free electrons)

Daily examples of making use of conduction/insulation effectively:

1. Plastic is used for making handles of pans/barbeques forks

- Plastic is a good insulator of heat
- It can slow down conduction of heat from the heat sources to our hands
- Prevent us from being burnt
2. A layer of vacuum is present inside double-glazed windows
- No particles: eliminate conduction completely
- Reduces heat flow between inside and outside of a house
- Remain at desired temperature range
Radiation: heat flow by the emission and absorption of electromagnetic waves ( through any
medium):

**Every object, no matter hot or cold, emits electromagnetic waves of different frequencies**

- Objects at everyday temperature emit invisible infrared rays (IR)

- Objects at extremely high temperatures emit visible light or ultraviolet rays (UV)
- Emission and absorption of radiation will still be present even in vacuum

- Dark/Dull-colored surfaces: Good emitter + Good absorber

- Shiny/Light-colored surfaces: poor emitter + Poor absorber

Daily examples of making use of radiation effectively:

1. Glass panes are installed in greenhouses

- Reflect re-radiation from plants after absorbing light energy from the Sun
- Energy is trapped inside
- Retains a higher temperature than outside
2. Frozen food bags are usually shiny
- The surroundings are hotter than the frozen food inside the bag
- Prevents absorption of radiation from the environment