Idea 3of 9Builds onEnergy on the move
Through the metal
Nothing flows in a solid. How does it warm?
Today you'll discover
- how energy crosses a solid where nothing can move along
- why metal feels colder than wood in the same room
- the name for this way of travelling
Think firstThe spoon's handle warms, though nothing moves along it
The far end of the spoon warms, yet nothing flows along a solid. How?
Decide first, then press Next. Watch the shaking pass along while every ball stays put.
A metal spoon standing in soup, with a row of small balls along its handle and a hand at the tip. After a prediction, the balls nearest the soup are picked out shaking, then the shaking is seen passing from ball to ball along the handle while each stays in place, then the way of travelling is named. The last step asks why a metal rail feels colder than a wooden one.
See the whole ideathe big idea and the key word, in one place
The big idea
Conduction: energy handed particle to particle through a solid.
Easy to get wrongMetal is not colder than wood in the same room. It feels colder because it takes energy from your hand faster.
Key word
- conduction
- the transfer of thermal energy through a material by particles passing their motion to their neighbours, with no flow of the material
About this modelParticles are drawn far apart and the arrows show energy, not matter, except in the convection loop where the fluid itself moves.
Particles are drawn far apart and the arrows show energy, not matter, except in the convection loop where the fluid itself moves.
Ready to use it?
- Explain how energy crosses a solid, and why two things at one temperature can feel different.