Three ways, every day
One morning, heat moves three ways. Can you name each one?
Step 1 of 3
- A spoon in hot dal. The solid stays in place: conduction.
- Water in a pan. The water itself moves: convection.
- Sun on a gate. Nothing in between: radiation.
The three ways are conduction, convection and radiation.
The rule
Ask what carried the heat. A solid that stays in place: conduction. A moving liquid or gas: convection. Nothing in between: radiation.
Heat at home
| Thing | Why it works |
|---|---|
| steel base of a pan | a good conductor carries heat into the food |
| wooden handle | an insulator keeps heat away from your hand |
| quilt on a cold night | it traps air, an insulator, so heat leaves slowly |
| white umbrella in the Sun | a light surface takes in less of the Sun's heat |
| black seat in the Sun | a dark surface takes in more of the Sun's heat |
Now try it. Sort eight moments into the three ways.
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