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Convection Conduction Radiation Matchcard

The Convection Conduction Radiation MatchCard explores the three types of heat transfer with cool science experiments and review activities.

science-matchcard

Convection, Conduction, Radiation MatchCard

Objective: Describe three types of heat transfer: convection, conduction, and radiation.

Convection = Rising of hot molecules and falling of cooler molecules in a liquid or gas
Conduction = Heating molecules of solid objects in contact with a warmer object
Radiation = Movement of infra red waves through empty space

Experiment with the 3 Types of Heat Transfer

Here is a simple hands-on demonstration to introduce the three types of heat transfer. The use of a stove requires adult supervision.

Put water in a pan and let it heat to boiling on the stove.
Have the student start from several feet away and approach the stove (from the side, not from above.) Have them state when they feel the warmth of the pan and hot water.
Put a metal spoon in the pan. Feel that the spoon is also getting warmer.
Carefully, put your hand over the rising vapor. Note the difference in the amount of heat when your hand is over the pan compared to the side of the pan.

Show the Convection, Conduction, Radiation MatchCard. Discuss the diagram of the camp fire, and compare the three types of heat transfer to their experience with the pan on the stove.

Convection

This hands-on demonstration will provide more experience with convection.

Use food coloring to dye cool water blue. Put it in an ice tray and freeze it. Wait until it is frozen to continue the experiment.
Get a small, clear jar. A baby food jar, a measuring cup. or other small container will work well.
Put hot water in the jar. Use red food coloring to dye the water red.
Put a piece of aluminum foil over the jar. Use a rubber band to help secure it.
Put the jar in a larger container. A clear mixing bowl, cookie jar, or even the kitchen sink (with a stopper in place) could work.
Put the small jar with the hot water in the larger container. Fill it with room temperature water. Poke a hole in the foil with a knife or fork and watch what happens. (Hot molecules rise.)
Immediately, put the blue ice cubes into the water as well. What happens? (Cool molecules fall)
Observe for currents as the water molecules move.

Discuss that convection is caused by movement of molecules through liquid or gas.
Match the Information Pieces on the Convection Conduction Radiation MatchCard with diagram for convection.

Conduction

Use different instruments in hot water to see which conduct heat. Here are some items to consider:

metal spoon
plastic spoon
wooden spoon

Discuss that conduction is the transfer of heat to adjacent molecules in a solid.
Match the Information Pieces on the Convection Conduction Radiation MatchCard with diagram for conduction.

Radiation

Look for different objects in your house that radiate heat. (heater, toaster, light bulb)
How far from the object can you feel the radiated heat?

Humans give off infra-red radiation. That is why a roomful of people is warmer than a room with few or no people in it.

Discuss that radiation comes from infra-red waves, a form of electromagnetic radiation that has shorter waves than visible light.
Match the Information Pieces on the Convection Conduction Radiation MatchCard with diagram for radiation.

The Hunt

Create a list of examples of transfer of heat that the student encounters in daily life.

Identify which of the three types of heat transfer occurs in each.

Encourage the use of the terms "convection," "conduction," and "radiation" as part of daily vocabulary.

Using the Convection Conduction Radiation Matchcard

This is the seventh Matchcard of the Light and Energy Unit Study. You can download the Convection Conduction Radiation Matchcard here.

The student matches the characteristics of translucent, transparent, and obaque objects with the illustration of each.

The second page is the Instructor's Guide with the correct answers.

The third page has the Information Pieces. Student's cut them apart and place them in the correct place on their copy of the Matchcard (first page.)

For more information on how to use the Matchcards, see the MatchCard Science Instructor's Guide.

MatchCard Science

The activities and illustration above are from MatchCard Science, a homeschool science unit study. For the complete Light and Energy Unit Study follow this link. This unit study provides:

hands-on demonstrations
MatchCard reviews to master the material
suggestions for science projects to complete
instructions on a complete unit study curriculum

Currently this curriculum is under-going revision. We are providing free access to the unit study, with the desire that you will provide feedback as you are field testing the materials.

Science Notebook

If you are just using this single project, and are not in need of a full unit study, you might want your student to complete a science notebook entry for this project.

Return from the Translucent Objects Matchcard to the MatchCard Science Main Page.