Conduction, Convection, and Radiation: Overview

Conduction, convection, and radiation are the three different ways energy can be transfered via heat. Conduction is when energy transfers from one molecule to the next via collisions. Imagine higher energy (greater temp) particles on the inside of a window bumping into their neighbors, when then bump in their neighbors and so on. Eventually some of the thermal energy from the warm side of the window, escapes on the cold side through these collisions. Convection is when a high energy particle literally moves from the a warmer area to a colder area, thus decreasing the thermal energy in the warmer area and increasing it the colder. Radiation is heat transfer electromagnetic waves and all objects with temperature greater than zero (Kelvin) radiate electromagntic waves - think night vision goggles that "see" thermal images.

This concept trailer from OpenStax motivates conduction, convection, and radiation through cooking.

Big Ideas

Big Idea 4: Interactions between systems can result in changes in those systems.

Big Idea 5: Changes that occur as a result of interactions are constrained by conservation laws.

Big Idea 6: Waves can transfer energy and momentum from one location to another without the permanent transfer of mass and serve as a mathematical model for the description of other phenomena.

Big Idea 7: The mathematics of probability can be used to describe the behavior of complex systems and to interpret the behavior of quantum mechanical systems.

Learning Objectives

BoxSand Learning Objectives

Thermodynamics.CCR.LO.BS.1: Understand there are three mechanisms by which thermal energy can be transferred as heat.
Thermodynamics.CCR.LO.BS.2: Understand that all objects, everywhere, are constantly radiating (just maybe not in the visible spectrum so we don't notice it).

College Board Learning Objectives

Thermodynamics.CCR.LO.CB.1.E.3.1: The student is able to design an experiment and analyze data from it to examine thermal conductivity. [SP 4.1, 4.2, 5.1]

Enduring Understanding and Essential Knowledge

Enduring Understanding

Essential Knowledge

Thermodynamics.CCR.EU.CB.1.E: Materials have many macroscopic properties that result from the arrangement and interactions of the atoms and molecules that make up the material.

Thermodynamics.CCR.EK.CB.1.E.3: Matter has a property called thermal conductivity. Thermal conductivity is the measure of a material’s ability to transfer thermal energy.

Relevant Equation:

$\frac{Q}{\Delta t} = \frac{kA\Delta T}{\Delta L}$

Assumptions

Describe what the assumptions are and why they're important

History

Physics Fun

A wonderful song, to the tune of Demons by Imagine Dragons, about Conduction, Convection and Radiation