Science - Combined - 0653 CIE

Transfer Of Thermal Energy (continued)

Overview

A metal spoon left in a hot drink soon burns your fingers, warm air rises from a radiator to fill a room, and you feel the Sun's heat across empty space. These are the three ways thermal energy travels: conduction, convection and radiation. Knowing which one is at work, and often more than one at once, lets you explain almost every heating and cooling effect around you.

In this lesson you will explain everyday applications of conduction, convection and radiation, from cooking pans to heating a room. You will describe experiments that distinguish good and bad emitters and absorbers of infrared radiation, see how surface temperature and area control the rate of radiation, and explain complex cases such as a coal fire and a car radiator where more than one transfer matters.

Objectives

  1. [Core] Know that thermal energy transfer by thermal radiation does not require a medium and is mainly due to infrared radiation
  2. [Core] Describe the effect of surface colour (black or white) and texture (dull or shiny) on the emission, absorption and reflection of thermal radiation
  3. [Core] Identify and explain some of the basic everyday applications and consequences of conduction, convection and radiation
  4. [Supplement] Know that the temperature of the Earth is affected by the radiation absorbed by the Earth and the radiation emitted by the Earth
  5. [Supplement] Describe experiments to distinguish between good and bad emitters of thermal radiation
  6. [Supplement] Describe experiments to distinguish between good and bad absorbers of thermal radiation

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Lesson Note

Designing a kettle, insulating a house, cooling an engine or keeping a drink hot all come down to encouraging the thermal transfers you want and blocking the ones you do not. Exam questions love real applications, and the best answers name the transfer, say why a material or surface helps, and reason in terms of particles or radiation.

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Lesson Evaluation

Congratulations on completing the lesson on Transfer Of Thermal Energy (continued). Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.

You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.

Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.

  1. Which method of thermal energy transfer can take place through a vacuum? A. conduction B. convection C. radiation D. none of these Answer: C
  2. A saucepan handle is made of plastic mainly because plastic is a A. good conductor B. good emitter C. poor conductor D. good absorber Answer: C
  3. Warm air rises from a heater because, when heated, the air becomes A. more dense B. less dense C. heavier D. cooler Answer: B
  4. Which surface is the best emitter of infrared radiation? A. shiny silver B. shiny white C. dull black D. polished metal Answer: C
  5. The rate at which an object emits radiation increases if its A. surface temperature falls B. surface area decreases C. surface temperature rises D. colour becomes shinier Answer: C

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