SP 3C Keeping Warm - Notes

Heat Energy • Heat is energy that flows from a hot region to a cold region because of the
temperature difference between the two regions.
• Heat energy flows by one or more of the processes of:
• CONDUCTION
• CONVECTION
• RADIATION

Conduction: (Heat transfers by molecular contact)

In a hot solid, particles vibrate more. They collide with the particles next to them and set them
vibrating. The kinetic energy is transferred from particle to particle. Metals are the best
conductors. Solids are better than liquids. Gases are very poor conductors. They
are insulators.
Atoms in a substance are always vibrating. If the substance gets hotter, the atoms vibrate more.
The heat energy is given to the atoms, which makes them move about faster

Every time they collide with another atom, the heat energy is transferred. This is how heat
travels through a solid

Convection (Heat transfers through density differences)

In a hot fluid (gas or liquid) the particles have more kinetic energy so they move more. They
spread out and the fluid becomes less dense. The hot fluid rises above the denser cold fluid
forming a convection current.
 Hot air rises in cold air
 Hot water rises in cold water
 This is called convection
When hot air rises, colder air has to move in to replace it. Convection cannot happen in solids,
as the atoms aren't able to move around
Radiation: (Heat transfers by wave motion)
All objects emit and absorb infrared radiation. The higher the temperature the more they emit.
When objects absorb this energy their temperature increases.

Radiation will travel through a vacuum – it does not need a medium (material) to pass through:
 Dark and matt surfaces are good absorbers and emitters of infrared radiation.
 Light and shiny surfaces are poor absorbers and emitters of infrared radiation.
 Light and shiny surfaces are good reflectors of infrared radiation.

Thermal (infra red) radiation is the transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves.

• All bodies emit and absorb thermal radiation.

• The hotter a body is the more energy it radiates.
• Dark, matt surfaces are good absorbers and good emitters of radiation.
• Light, shiny surfaces are poor absorbers and poor emitters of radiation.
• The transfer of energy by conduction and convection involves particles
• Under similar conditions different materials transfer heat at different rates.
• The shape and dimensions of a body affect the rate at which it transfers heat.
• The bigger the temperature difference between a body and its surroundings, the faster the
rate at which heat is transferred.

 The colour of an object affects how good it is at emitting and absorbing thermal radiation:

Thermal Conductivity: A measure of how good a material is at conducting heat. The higher
this value is for a given material, the higher the material’s rate of energy transfer via conduction
will be.

Thermal Insulation: The application of a material that reduces the amount of heat that is
transferred from the system in question, to its surroundings.

Insulation

 Most insulators contain pockets of trapped air. This makes them very effective because:
1. Air is a very poor conductor of heat (as are all gases).
2. Trapping the air prevents it from moving around, forming a convection current.

Materials such as cotton wool contain lots of trapped air, making them excellent insulators

 Surrounding a warm object by a material that contains trapped air will reduce the rate
at which it loses heat.
 Likewise, surrounding a cold object with such a material will reduce the amount of
heat reaching the object.
Vacuum Flask:

Plastic cap:
Plastic is a poor conductor accept insulator for poor conductor. It stops convection currents
forming at the top of the flask so stopping energy transfer by convection. Molecules /
particles evaporating from the hot liquid cannot move into the surrounding air so stops
energy transfer by evaporation .Plastic cap reduces / stops energy transfer by conduction /
convection / evaporation
Glass container:
Glass is a poor conductor so reducing energy transfer by conduction. Glass reduces / stops
energy transfer by conduction
Vacuum:
Both conduction and convection require a medium / particles. So stops energy transfer
between the two walls by conduction and convection .Vacuum stops energy transfer by
conduction / convection.
Silvered surfaces:
Silvered surfaces reflect infrared radiation. Silvered surfaces are poor emitters of infrared
radiation. Infrared radiation partly reflected back towards hot liquid. Silvered surfaces
reduce / stop energy transfer by radiation.

Insulating a house
Explain how each of the labelled features helps to make the house on the right more energy
efficient. Use the phrase ‘thermal conductivity’ in at least two of your explanations.
Double glazing: Heat loss through windows can be reduced by using double glazing. These
special windows have trapped air or a vacuum between two panes of glass.

Double glazing is filled with vacuum, so there will be no conduction or convection (because
no particles or medium in vacuum).

Double glazing is filled with trapped air (air is having low thermal conductivity) between
the glasses, convection is minimised because there is little room for the air to move. Also air is
a poor conductor there will be very little heat loss by conduction.

Loft insulation: Loft insulation is plastic foam that contains trapped air, so convection is
minimised. Also air is a poor conductor (low thermal conductivity) so there will be very little
heat loss by conduction.

Cavity wall insulation: Cavity wall is filled with trapped air or plastic foam which has a low
thermal conductivity. This prevents heat loss by both conduction and convection currents.

Draught excluders: Draught excluders are hairy or spongy strips which are placed under
doors to prevent the movement of convection currents. It reduces the flow of air out of the
house and reduces energy losses by convection.

Shiny foil behind radiators: Placing a sheet of shiny foil behind radiators prevents heat
radiation reaching the wall and conducting outside. Instead, it is reflected back into the room.

Carpets & Curtains: Carpets have a low thermal conductivity and so reduce the amount of
energy conducted from the air in the house to the floor so reduces the amount transferred to the
ground.

Curtains reduce heat loss by covering up gaps around windows through which convection
currents sometimes pass.

**************