Heat Transfer

Heat Transfer

How is heat transferred? Heat is transferred by convection, conduction and radiation. These are the 3 ways of heat transfer. In the progress of these heat transfers, molecules heat up and move around to one place to another.

Convection is a heat transfer through fluids like gas and liquids. In the atmosphere, hot air rise up on convection currents and this creates clouds and winds. Convection also takes place when heated molecules are moving from place to place, bringing heat with them. This is common to the atmosphere and the oceans.

Conduction is another type of heat transfer through direct contact. When 1 molecule is heated, it moves and shakes rapidly. When it does that it passes on some heat to another molecule which is around it. Molecules keep on passing the heat until all of them are heated up. This is the process of conduction. Some substances are not strong heat conductors like wood.

Radiation is the 3rd type of heat transfer. Radiation is a heat transfer through electromagnetic substances. Hot substances’ radiation is more intense than colder substances. Radiation leaves a substance in a form of a wave. Very hot substances have a shorter wave length. There are some substances that are good radiators like the sun and the earth. They are excellent radiators.

Heat is very important to us because it helps us get warmer and also prevents us from getting cold. Heat is important because we wouldn’t be able to cook our food.