Activities

1. Define convection.
   
   
2. Define conduction.
   
   
3. Define radiation.
   
   
4. Complete the diagram below, then give one example of each type of heat transference.
   
   
   
   
5. Create a chart and classify the examples of energy transfer as convection, conduction, or radiation.
   1. Heat from a light bulb
   2. An old fashion radiator
   3. Ice cooling down your hand
   4. Lying in the sun getting a tan
   5. A rising hot air balloon
   6. Roasting marshmallows
      
      
6. Explain why some cooking pans have wooden handles.
   
   
7. Why does clean snow melt slower than dirty snow?
   
   

Answer Key/Rubric

1. Convection is the direct heat transfer through a liquid or a gas.
   
   
2. Conduction is the direct heat transfer from one object to another through direct contact.
   
   
3. Radiation is the transfer of heat energy through space.
   
   
4. Acceptable responses might include, but not be limited to:
   1. Convection – pan of soup on a hot stove; hot air from a fireplace
   2. Radiation – the sun; placing your hand over a fire
   3. Conduction – metal spoon sitting in a cup of cocoa; picking up the hot cup of cocoa
      
      
5. Answers should resemble:

6. Acceptable responses might include, but not be limited to:
   Wood is a poor conductor of heat so some pans have wooden handles to protect hands from being burned.

7. Acceptable responses might include, but not be limited to:
   Clean snow reflects more of the sun’s heat energy away which slows down the melting process. Dirty snow, which is darker in color, absorbs the sun’s radiant energy. This causes it to melt faster than the clean snow.