Module P1 - Conduction and Convection

There are two main ways heat is transferred in the home: convection, and conduction.

Conduction mainly occurs in solids.

In a solid, when a particle vibrates, it bumps into other particles and passes on its energy.

This process continues through the solid, and gradually the extra kinetic energy is spread all the way through the solid, causing a rise in temperature on the other side.

Metals are good conductors, non-metals are good for insulating things.

Air is also a good insulator because liquids and gases conduct heat more slowly than solids (bevcause the particles aren't so close together).

A good example of conduction is a spade in a garden. If it's left outside in cold weather, the metal will always feel colder than the wood. It's…