Conduction, convection, and radiation
Science · Energy · conceptual
Describe and compare the three mechanisms of heat transfer — conduction (particle vibration through solids), convection (fluid movement in liquids/gases), and radiation (infrared waves) — and explain that the rate of transfer depends on temperature difference
What mastery looks like
- Explains the particle-level mechanism for conduction and why metals are good conductors
- Describes a convection current using particle theory and gives a real-world example
- Explains that all objects emit and absorb infrared radiation and how surface colour affects this
- States that a greater temperature difference increases the rate of heat transfer
Check your understanding
If Conduction, convection, and radiation was heating soup on a hob and also warming their hands by a radiator, could they explain which type of heat transfer is happening in each case — and why the soup pot gets hot throughout even though it’s only heated at the bottom?
Prerequisites
Required first
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