Heat Transfer

Heat transfers in three different ways: conduction, convection, and radiation.

Conduction is the transfer of heat between two surfaces that are directly in contact with one another. When you burn yourself on a hot pan while making scrambled eggs, that’s an example of conduction.

Heat transfers through some materials better than others. Metals are especially good thermal conductors; that’s why pots and pans are made out of metal.

Materials that are very slow to transfer heat are called thermal insulators. Some examples of materials that are thermal insulators include rubber and cork. 

The insulation in houses keeps the heat in or out.

Convection is the transfer of heat through the movement of large amounts of a liquid or gas. 

Warm air tends to rise, and cool air tends to fall. The movement of these air masses and the transfer of energy that occurs are called convection.

The third way heat transfer can occur is through a process called radiation. Radiation is when there is no material transferring the heat.

Another example of heat radiation is the sun. The sun's heat travels through space and then through the earth's atmosphere.