heat transfer experiments conduction convection radiation

Unsure how to make learning about conduction, convection and radiation hands-on? These Heat Transfer Experiments for Conduction, Convection and Radiation will guide you and your students through some excellent labs to help them understand the transfer of heat in solids, liquids and gases. The power of a simple experiment can be the difference between a student understanding or not understanding a difficult concept.

The transfer of thermal energy is an important concept, not just for further study of science, but for practical applications in everyday life. From choosing which color car to buy in a hot climate, to determining the best type of clothing to wear during winter, there are a lot of applications for this type of kinetic energy.

This resource is fantastic for developing student understanding of heat transfer in conduction, convection and radiation. It contains 4 full heat transfer experiment outlines with scaffolded student worksheets and diagrams of equipment set up. It also includes a bonus teacher demonstration or extra student experiment idea with suggestions. This resource also helps students develop their graphing skills and their ability to draw meaning from their experimental observations.

What is included in the heat transfer experiments?

• 4 heat transfer experiments:
  • heat conduction experiment -  comparing the rate of heat transfer via conduction through a glass and a metal rod using a bunsen burner
  • conductors and insulators experiment - students observe the temperature difference over time to compare the rate of heat loss for hot water in two different materials. Students determine which materials are better conductors and better insulators
  • conductivity of different metals - comparison of how heat energy is transferred in different types of metal
  • radiation - comparing reflection and absorption of radiated heat in different materials
• Bonus teacher demo: observation of the rate of convection of potassium permanganate crystals

Why purchase the energy transfer experiments?

• hands-on
• scaffolded
• printable
• uses basic lab equipment and household items
• full methods - easy for students to follow
• Builds student skills in:
  • following a method
  • collecting first-hand data
  • graphing data
  • drawing conclusions

What equipment is needed for the transfer of energy experiments?

• bunsen burner flame
• heatproof mat
• matches
• tripod
• glass rod
• metal rod
• paperclips
• vaseline
• stopwatch or timer for regular intervals
• kettle & cold water
• black cans, silver cans, white cans, (or different coloured flasks)
• beaker
• styrofoam cup
• different types of metal strips e.g. aluminium, copper and tin
• thermometers
• Optional: potassium permanganate

Includes teacher notes and suggestions.

*Always follow your school's safety protocols before conducting any experiments. Check the safety precautions of all materials and conduct a thorough risk assessment.