1. HEAT ENERGY AND ITS TRANSFER

2. Learning Points State that heat flows through a solid by conduction.
Explain conduction in terms of vibrating particles.
Know that metals are good conductors of heat energy.

3. Learning Points
4. State that a material which lets heat flow through it easily is a good conductor of heat
5. State that a material which does not let heat flow through it easily by conduction is an insulator of heat.

4. Which items are good conductors?

5. Conduction When heat travels by Conduction, the particles
near the heat source start to vibrate.
These vibrations are then passed to the
atom next to them, which in turn pass the
vibration through the material.

6. Learning objectives
C – know that conduction is the transfer of thermal energy
B – be able to draw a diagram showing conduction
A – be able to explain the properties of thermal insulators and conductors

7. Heat Energy Conductors
Metals are very good conductors of heat,
which is why a metal spoon will get hot very
quickly when used to stir the contents of a
pan.

8. Design a Saucepan Challenge
Holder on lid
Handle
Main part of pan
Base
Which parts of the saucepan do you want to get hot and which bits do you want to keep cool?
Why?

9. Why does a pan get hot but the handle doesn’t?
Why does the spoon get hot when you stir your tea?
Why does a pan get hot but the handle doesn’t?

10. Quick conduction experiments
Step up a clamp
stand with four paperclips stuck onto a metal rod with vaseline.
2. Heat one end of the rod and time how long the paperclips take to drop off.

11. TIME TAKEN TO FALL OFF (S)
Quick conduction experiments
PAPERCLIP NUMBER
TIME TAKEN TO FALL OFF (S) 1 2 3 4

12. Quick conduction experiments
The heat from the
bunsen burner has
travelled along the rod
by conduction.
Can you explain what
happened to the metal
particles (or atoms) to
allow the heat to move
through the rod?

13. Conduction and Particles

14. How did the energy move along the rod?
Remember that a solid is made up of particles.
These particles are always vibrating.

15. Heating the rod
As we heat the rod, the particles get more energy and vibrate more.
They also bump into each other, passing some energy along.

16. The thermal energy is passed through the rod as the particles bump into each other.
The entire rod eventually heats up. This is called conduction.

17. What is the best conductor?
Place two different metal rods on a tripod stand so that they are touching at one end.
2. Stick a paperclip on the end of each rod using vaseline.
3. Heat the end of the rods that where they meet and time how long the paperclips take to drop off.

18. TIME TAKEN TO FALL OFF (S)
What is the best conductor?
TYPE OF METAL ROD
TIME TAKEN TO FALL OFF (S)

19. What is the best conductor?
The heat from the
bunsen burner has
travelled along both the
rods by conduction.
Can you explain why the
conduction was faster
in one rod and slower in
the other?

20. Fill in the missing gaps on the sheet using the words in the box.
Draw diagrams in the three boxes showing what happened as the rod was heated. Write underneath what is happening.
Try and mention particles in your answer.

21. Good conductors in the home
Stainless steel (mostly Iron) is a very good conductor
of heat and is used to make cooking pots.
denby.co.uk
Can you think of any other items in your home that
are good conductors?

22. HEAT ENERGY INSULATORS
Wood is a poor conductor of heat.
We tend to use wooden spoons in cooking since they won’t pass the heat through them onto your hand.
We call Wood a good INSULATOR.
kitchenaria.com

23. What is the best insulator?
Place three different rods (metal, plastic and wood) into a beaker containing freshly boiled water.
2. After 5 minutes GENTLY touch the end of each rod and find out which ones are hot or cold.

24. HOT OR COLD AFTER 5 MINUTES
What is the best insulator?
TYPE OF METAL ROD
HOT OR COLD AFTER 5 MINUTES

25. What is the best insulator?
The heat from the
bunsen burner has NOT
travelled along some of
the rods.
Can you explain what
happened to the particles
in the INSULATORS
that didn’t allow the heat
to move through them?

26. Quick Quiz What is temperature a measure of?
How can you make the temperature rise?
What is the difference between “heat” and “temperature”?
How hot or cold something is.
Add heat energy
Heat is the energy, temperature is how hot or cold something is.

27. Put these statements in order
The neighbouring particles also move.
Heat makes the particles vibrate.
Particles in a solid are tightly packed together, so
The heat can therefore travel along the solid.
This movement means they have a higher temperature. 3 1 2 5 4

28. Fill in with “well” or “badly”
A conductor lets heat travel _______.
An insulator lets heat travel _______.
Air lets heat travel _______ by conduction.
well
badly
badly

29. Answer the questions Examples of conductors in the home are:
Examples of insulators in the home are:
Electric Iron, saucepan
Pot handles, clothes

30. Finally… Imagine an alien has visited earth.
They have asked you to explain what we mean by conduction.
2 minutes to think of your answer!