PHYSICS – Thermal processes

LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
2.3.1 Conduction
Core • Describe experiments to demonstrate Supplement • Give a simple molecular
the properties of good and bad thermal account of conduction in solids including
conductors lattice vibration and transfer by electrons

2.3.2 Convection
Core • Recognise convection as an important
method of thermal transfer in fluids • Relate
convection in fluids to density changes and
describe experiments to illustrate convection

2.3.3 Radiation
Core • Identify infra-red radiation as part of
the electromagnetic spectrum • Recognise that
thermal energy transfer by radiation does not
require a medium • Describe the effect of
surface colour (black or white) and texture
(dull or shiny) on the emission, absorption and
reflection of radiation
Supplement • Describe experiments to show
the properties of good and bad emitters and
good and bad absorbers of infra-red
radiation • Show understanding that the
amount of radiation emitted also depends on
the surface temperature and surface area
of a body

2.3.4 Consequences of energy transfer

Core • Identify and explain some of the
everyday applications and consequences of
conduction, convection and radiation
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Define thermal energy transfer

•  List out different methods of thermal energy
transfer
• Demonstrate and explain thermal expansion
• Distinguish between conductors and insulators
• Understand and analyze the use of thermal
conduction in daily life
• Practice past paper questions
Thermal exchange
 Thermal exchange

Conduction
 Thermal exchange

Conduction Convection
 Thermal exchange

Conduction Convection Radiation

 Definition of Thermal Conduction

This is how heat energy flows from a hot to cold region of a

substance without the molecules of the substance moving from the
hot to cold region.
Thermal conduction
Thermal conduction

Metal bar

According to kinetic
theory, all materials are
made up of tiny, moving
particles. In a solid
these particles tend to
vibrate around a fixed
spot.
Thermal conduction

Metal bar

According to kinetic
theory, all materials are
made up of tiny, moving
particles. In a solid
these particles tend to
vibrate around a fixed
spot.

Heat
Thermal conduction

Metal bar

As the bar is heated,

the particles tend to
vibrate more.

Heat
Thermal conduction

Metal bar

As the bar is heated,

the particles tend to
vibrate more.
Thermal energy is
transferred from the
hot end to the cold end
as the particles pass on
their increased kinetic
energy to other
Heat particles along the bar.
Thermal conduction
Thermal energy transfer is increased if:
1. Temperature difference Metal bar
across ends of bar is increased.

Thermal energy transferred by conduction

As the bar is heated,

the particles tend to
vibrate more.
Thermal energy is
transferred from the
hot end to the cold end
as the particles pass on
their increased kinetic
energy to other
Heat particles along the bar.
 Thermal conduction
Thermal energy transfer is increased if:
1. Temperature difference Metal bar
across ends of bar is increased.

Thermal energy transferred by conduction

As the bar is heated,

the particles tend to
vibrate more.
2. Cross-
Thermal energy is
sectional area
of the bar is transferred from the
increased. hot end to the cold end
as the particles pass on
their increased kinetic
energy to other
Heat particles along the bar.
 Thermal conduction
Thermal energy transfer is increased if:
1. Temperature difference Metal bar
across ends of bar is increased.

Thermal energy transferred by conduction

As the bar is heated,

the particles tend to
vibrate more.
2. Cross- 3. The length
of the bar is
Thermal energy is
sectional area
of the bar is reduced. transferred from the
increased. hot end to the cold end
as the particles pass on
their increased kinetic
energy to other
Heat particles along the bar.
Heat from the source as causing the atoms of the solid to vibrate
and gain kinetic energy.
These atoms cause neighboring atoms to vibrate. Kinetic energy
is transferred from one atom to the next.
Heat energy is conducted through the solid in this way. As the atoms
of the solid gain kinetic energy the temperature of the solid
increases.
 Water - a poor conductor

• A boiling tube of water is heated near the top

of the water.

• Water boils at the top.

• The bottom of the tube remains cool enough to

hold.

20
 Conduction through metals
• Metals have an additional method of conduction.
• Metals have electrons that can move from one atom to another.
• These free electrons can pass energy through the metal very quickly.
• Most of the best conductors are metals.
Thermal conduction
Conductors and insulators
Thermal conduction
Conductors and insulators

Metals are the best

thermal conductors.
They feel cold to
the touch as heat is
quickly conducted
away from your
hand.
Thermal conduction
Conductors and insulators

Metals are the best

thermal conductors.
They feel cold to
the touch as heat is
quickly conducted
away from your
hand.

Non-metals tend to
be poor conductors.
A polystyrene tile
feels warm to the
touch because it
stops your hand
from losing thermal
energy.
Thermal conduction
Conductors and insulators

Metals are the best

thermal conductors.
Poor
They feel cold to
the touch as heat is
conductors
quickly conducted are called
away from your
hand. insulators.

Non-metals tend to
be poor conductors.
A polystyrene tile
feels warm to the
touch because it
stops your hand
from losing thermal
energy.
Thermal conduction
Conductors and insulators

Metals are the best

thermal conductors.
Poor
They feel cold to
the touch as heat is
conductors
quickly conducted are called
away from your
hand. insulators.

Non-metals tend to Liquids are poor

be poor conductors. conductors, and
A polystyrene tile gases are the worst
feels warm to the of all. Many
touch because it insulators have tiny
stops your hand pockets of trapped
from losing thermal air.
energy.
 Finding the best conductor
• All the rods have the same
length and cross-sectional area.
• They are all heated equally at
one end with the Bunsen burner.
• When the other end of a rod
reaches a certain temperature
the paraffin wax melts and the
match stick falls off.
• A match stick will fall off the
best conductor first.
• This should be the rod made of
copper.

27
Thermal conduction
Comparing conductors

Brass
Steel HEAT Aluminium

Drawing pin held

copper on with vaseline.
Thermal conduction
Comparing conductors

Brass
Steel HEAT Aluminium

Material Time for pin Drawing pin held

to fall (secs) on with vaseline.
Aluminium 125
copper

Brass 189
Copper 73
Steel 340
Thermal conduction
Comparing conductors

Brass
Conclusion:
Copper is the best conductor
of thermal energy, steel is
the worst.

Steel HEAT Aluminium

Material Time for pin Drawing pin held

to fall (secs) on with vaseline.
Aluminium 125
copper

Brass 189
Copper 73
Steel 340
Thermal conduction
Comparing conductors

Brass
Conclusion:
Copper is the best conductor
of thermal energy, steel is
the worst.

Steel HEAT Aluminium

Material Time for pin Drawing pin held

to fall (secs) on with vaseline.
Aluminium 125
copper
Textbook relative conductivity
Material values.
Brass 189
Copper 73 Aluminium 204

Steel 340 Brass 109

Copper 385
Steel 16
Thermal conduction
Comparing conductors

As the top of the

tube is heated, the
water boils and turns Boiling water
into steam.
The ice trapped at
the bottom of the

a
tube does not melt.

he
Gauze t

Ice
Thermal conduction
Comparing conductors

As the top of the

tube is heated, the
water boils and turns Boiling water
into steam.
The ice trapped at
the bottom of the

a
tube does not melt.

he
t
This experiment
shows that water is a
poor conductor of
thermal energy
Gauze (heat).

Ice
Thermal conduction
Using insulating materials

http://www.tameside.gov.uk/toptips/august
 Thermal conduction
Using insulating materials

http://www.tameside.gov.uk/toptips/august

1. Double-
glazed
windows; two
sheets of
glass with
air between
them.
http://www.scienceaid.co.uk/physics/electricity/energy.html

2. Wall cavity filled with plastic foam,

beads, or mineral wool.
 Thermal conduction
Using insulating materials
3. Loft
insulation – glass
or mineral wool,
with air trapped
between the
fibres.
http://www.bromacbuilders.com/insulation.html
http://www.tameside.gov.uk/toptips/august

1. Double-
glazed
windows; two
sheets of
glass with
air between
them.
http://www.scienceaid.co.uk/physics/electricity/energy.html

2. Wall cavity filled with plastic foam,

beads, or mineral wool.
 Thermal conduction
Using insulating materials
3. Loft
insulation – glass
or mineral wool,
with air trapped
between the
fibres.
http://www.bromacbuilders.com/insulation.html
http://www.tameside.gov.uk/toptips/august

1. Double-
glazed
4. Plastic
windows; two
foam lagging
sheets of
around the
glass with
hot water
air between
storage
them.
http://www.scienceaid.co.uk/physics/electricity/energy.html tank.

2. Wall cavity filled with plastic foam,

beads, or mineral wool. http://www.proinsulation.co.uk/Tank_&_Pipe_Insulation.html
Thermal conduction
Explaining conduction

In a metal, there are many tiny

electrons fixed inside the atoms.
Some, however, are ‘loose’ and free to
drift between the atoms. If the
metal is heated then the free
electrons begin to move more quickly
(they have more kinetic energy).
Thermal conduction
Explaining conduction
These free electrons are moving
randomly within the metal. They may
collide with the atoms and make them
vibrate more quickly. This means
that the thermal energy is
transferred rapidly to all parts,
making metals good thermal
conductors.
In a metal, there are many tiny
electrons fixed inside the atoms.
Some, however, are ‘loose’ and free to
drift between the atoms. If the
metal is heated then the free
electrons begin to move more quickly
(they have more kinetic energy).
Any material that conducts will have
particles vibrating and pushing on
neighbouring particles. But in metals,
this energy transfer through the
movement of free electrons means
that they conduct energy much more
quickly.

2.3.1 Conduction
Core • Describe experiments to demonstrate
the properties of good and bad thermal
conductors
LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
Supplement • Give a simple molecular
account of conduction in solids including
lattice vibration and transfer by electrons

2.3.2 Convection
Core • Recognise convection as an important
method of thermal transfer in fluids • Relate
convection in fluids to density changes and
describe experiments to illustrate convection

2.3.3 Radiation
Core • Identify infra-red radiation as part of
the electromagnetic spectrum • Recognise that
thermal energy transfer by radiation does not
require a medium • Describe the effect of
surface colour (black or white) and texture
(dull or shiny) on the emission, absorption and
reflection of radiation
Supplement • Describe experiments to show
the properties of good and bad emitters and
good and bad absorbers of infra-red
radiation • Show understanding that the
amount of radiation emitted also depends on
the surface temperature and surface area
of a body

2.3.4 Consequences of energy transfer

Core • Identify and explain some of the
everyday applications and consequences of
conduction, convection and radiation