Explain the Three Ways That Heat Can Be Transferred: Conduction, Convection, and Radiation

1.  This picture shows warm air rising and cool air falling in a cycle. This is an example of which process?

• Conduction
• Convection
• Radiation

2.  A metal spoon that gets warm when used to stir hot soup is an example of:

• Conduction
• Convection
• Radiation

3. The Sun’s rays take about 8 minutes to reach Earth’s atmosphere. Which process describes the thermal energy transfer between the Sun and the Earth?

• Conduction
• Convection
• Radiation

4. When the temperature outside rises, the temperature of the air in the house rises as well. Why is the 2nd floor air warmer than the 1st floor?  __________________________________________________________________________________

• Conduction. The 1st and 2nd floor are touching.
• Convection.  Warm air rises to 2nd floor.
• Radiation.  The sun is heating the whole house.

5. This is a lava lamp. When the light bulb heats the wax, the wax rises. When the wax cools, it falls. This cycle of rising/falling is an example of:

• Conduction.
• Convection.
• Radiation.

6.  A girl’s hands become warm after holding a mug of hot coffee. What process explains this?

• Conduction
• Convection
• Radiation

7.  Chris has to build a fire to keep the campers warm. The heat transfer from the fire keeps the campers warm due to:

• Conduction
• Convection
• Radiation

8. The picture is a Bunsen burner heating a beaker of water. The arrows show the transfer of heat energy in the water. Which process is primarily responsible for the transfer of heat?

• Conduction
• Convection
• Radiation

9. In the water cycle, sunlight causes water to evaporate, rise to form clouds, fall as precipitation, flow into a body of water, and begin the cycle again. What type of energy transfer is occurring as the evaporated water rises?

• Conduction
• Convection
• Radiation

10. A beaker is heated with a balloon attached to the top. When the water in a beaker is heated, the steam rises to inflate the balloon. When the air in a hot air balloon is heated, the hot air rises and lifts the balloon.  What do both of these things have in common? _________________________________  

• Both of them involve conduction, because the balloon is attached to the beaker and hot air balloon basket.
• In both instances, a balloon is inflated because of warm air rises and filling the balloon.  Thus, convection takes place.
• Radiation is involved in both instances because of the fire involved.