2011 BBSS Sec 2E LSS (Physics) e-learning Worksheet – thermal conduction and convection

Name: Nicola Clarke ( 28 ) Class: 2E5 Date: 11TH March 2011

Important instructions:
 You are going to learn Section 10.1, Section 10.2 and Section 10.3 of your Physics textbook.
 Of course, you will not do it alone. This set of notes (consisting of 4 printed pages) will guide you
along the way. Please read the notes carefully, follow the instructions closely and do the
exercises diligently.
 You should spend no more than 4 hours on this set of notes (one cycle).
 If you face any problems, you can reach your Physics teacher via the following email:
(a) Mr Quek Chin Keong quek_chin_keong@moe.edu.sg
(b) Mr Goh Wee Teck goh_wee_teck@moe.edu.sg
Of course, your teachers will not be seated next to the computer 24/7. Give us 1 to 2 working
days to respond to your emails. Alternatively, you can see us during term time next week.

Section 10.1 Transfer of thermal energy (Reference: textbook, page 169)

[Time limit: 30 minutes.]
Read this section of the textbook and answer the questions that follow.
Exercise 10.1: Fill in the blanks. The first letter of each word has been typed for you
1. Thermal energy (or heat) always flows from a region of high temperature to a region of low
temperature.

2. When object A and object B are at the same temperature, we say that both objects are at
thermal equilibrium. When two bodies are at thermal equilibrium, it also means that there is no
net flow of thermal energy between them.

WARNING: COMMON MISTAKES FROM YOUR SENIORS (DO NOT REPEAT!)

 “No net flow of thermal energy” is NOT the same as “no flow of thermal energy”.
 When there is no net flow of thermal energy from a body, we mean that the amount of heat
flowing into the body is equal to the amount of heat flowing out of the body at any instant.

3. The three different processes of thermal energy transfer are: conduction, convection and
radiation.

Section 10.2 Conduction (Reference: textbook, Pg 170)

[Time limit: 60 minutes]
Read this section of the textbook, and view the YouTube video listed below (place cursor over the
link. Press and hold the Ctrl button on the keyboard and then click on the link to access the video).
Eureka! Episode 24 – conduction
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=77R4arwD8G8&feature=bf_next&list=PLBA0AFCD5A698B5DA&index=1

Now, answer the questions that follow.

Exercise 10.2: Fill in the blanks. The first letter of each word has been typed for you
1. Conduction is the process of thermal energy transfer without any flow of the material medium .

2. A poor conductor of thermal energy is also known as a thermal insulator .

3. All solids (metals and non-metals) are made up of tiny particles called atoms and molecules.

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 2011 BBSS Sec 2E LSS (Physics) e-learning Worksheet – thermal conduction and convection

4. Thermal conduction on non-metals (Textbook, Pg 172):

When a non-metal solid is heated at one end, the particles of the solid at the heated end will
vibrate (NOT “move”) more vigorously and collide with the adjacent particles. This causes the
adjacent particles to vibrate (NOT “move”) more vigorously too.
This process repeats itself until all the particles in the solid are vibrating at a higher average
speed. When all the particles in the solid vibrate at a higher average speed, the temperature of
the solid (NOT “temperature of particles or molecules”) rises.

5. Thermal conduction in metals (Textbook, Pg 172):

(a) There is something that is present in metals and not present in non-metals: free electrons.
(Why are there free electrons present in metals and not in non-metals? It has something to do
with metallic bonding – to be covered in upper Sec Chemistry).
(b) When a metal is heated at one end, the particles of the metal at the heated end will vibrate
(NOT “move”) more vigorously and collide with the adjacent particles.
(c) Furthermore, the free electrons at the heated end will move from the heated end to the other
(cooler) parts of the metal. In the process, these energetic free electrons will collide with the
less energetic particles (NOT “cooler particles”) at the cooler parts of the metal. As a result of
these collisions, these particles (which are initially less energetic) will vibrate at a higher
average speed.
(d) As a result of vibration and collision between particles, as well as free-electron diffusion, all the
particles in a metal will now vibrate at a higher average speed in a shorter time than non a non-
metal (i.e., heat is conducted throughout a metal faster than in a non-metal).

WARNING: COMMON MISTAKES FROM YOUR SENIORS (DO NOT REPEAT!)

 Particles cannot get hot or cold. Particles can only be more energetic or less energetic.
 When the particles in a substance become more energetic, the substance (not its particles)
then become warmer / hotter.
 When the particles in a substance become less energetic, the substance (not its particles)
then become cooler / colder.
 Particles do not have a temperature. It is wrong to say “temperature of the particles increases”.
Instead, the particles become more energetic and move at a higher average speed. This
raises the temperature of the substance (not “temperature of the particles”), and vice versa.

Conduction in liquids and gases (Textbook, Pg 172):

(a) Particles in liquids and gases are spaced further apart than those in solids (we learnt this in
chapter 9, remember?). Therefore, collisions between particles are less frequent in liquids and
even lesser in gases.
(b) In other words, particles of a liquid take a longer time to pass the intense vibrations from the hot
end to the cold end. For a gas, this process will take an even longer time (because particles of a
gas are spaced far apart)

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 2011 BBSS Sec 2E LSS (Physics) e-learning Worksheet – thermal conduction and convection

(c) Experiment 10.2: to illustrate that water is a poor conductor of heat.

Read Textbook, Pg 172, experiment 10.2. Next, view the YouTube video below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWbUwvrNSIU&feature=related
The above video is not very well done (last part is rather unclear) but pay attention between the
21st second and 25th second. Did you see a wire gauze above the ice cube in the test tube?
What is the purpose of putting the wire gauze there?
It is to prevent the ice from floating to the top and being melted too quickly from the Bunsen
burner.

Section 10.3 Convection (Reference: textbook, Pg 174)

[Time limit: 60 minutes]
Read this section of the textbook, and view the YouTube videos listed below:
(a) Eureka! Episode 27 – convection
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pG-tkbQgMo&feature=related

(b) GCSE St. Helens Physics - Convection

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnB-Y8wPK2w&feature=related

(c) Convection currents (contents after 3 minutes 08 seconds are not relevant to you. Ignore them)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yt_K_bfKxTc&feature=related

Now, answer the questions that follow.

Exercise 10.3: Fill in the blanks. The first letter of each word has been typed for you
1. A fluid is a substance that can flow freely. Examples of such are liquids and gases.

2. Convection currents can exist in a fluid but not in solids. This is because particles of a solid
cannot flow freely. Thus convection cannot occur in solids.

3. What happens during convection (Textbook, Pg 175):

(a) Fluid nearest to the heat source gets heated up first. It expands (i.e., its volume increases. Note
that the mass of the fluid stays constant).
(b) When the fluid nearest to the heat source expands, its density decreases. This part of the fluid
becomes less dense and rises .
(c) The cooler fluid elsewhere, being denser, will rush in to fill this space. This part of the fluid will
then get heated up, expand, become less dense, and rise.
(d) The above cycle repeats itself until all the fluids in the container are at the same temperature
(and density)
Exercise 10.4: miscellaneous questions on conduction and convection
[Time limit: 20 minutes]

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 2011 BBSS Sec 2E LSS (Physics) e-learning Worksheet – thermal conduction and convection
1. In solids, thermal energy is transferred by conduction. What is the cause of conduction?
A changes in density B expansion
C infra-red radiation D molecular vibrations ( D )

2. The air in a large paper bag is heated. The bag is then found to rise through the surrounding
cold air. This is because __________.
A the mass of the air in the bag has decreased
B the volume of the air in the bag has increased
C the volume of the air in the bag has decreased
D heat always rises ( B )

3. An experiment is carried out as shown in the diagram.

Why does the ice take a long time to melt, even though
the water at the top of the glass tube is boiling?
A Water is a poor conductor of heat.
B Convection cannot occur in water.
C Radiation cannot occur in water.
D Ice is a poor conductor of heat. ( A )

4. In the process of convection, thermal energy is transferred

A because of density differences in a fluid.
B because of temperature differences in a fluid.
C by the vibration of molecules about a mean position.
D by electromagnetic waves. ( A )

5. In which set up below is convection currents least likely to occur in? ( A )

A B C

( )

6. Arrange the four substances below in ascending order of thermal conductivity (i.e., from worst
thermal conductor to best thermal conductor)
air iron water wood
Air, water, wood, iron
(worst thermal conductor) (best thermal conductor)

7. Can thermal energy be conducted through a vacuum? Do you think heat from the Sun reach us
(on Earth) by conduction? Explain your answer.
No. It is because there is no material medium in the vacuum. For conduction to occur, there
must be particles for heat transfer to occur. No. Conduction cannot occur in a vacuum.
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