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12.3Chapter 12: Energy Transfer

Energy transfer: conduction — Alhussan Physics - Stage 9 Revision Notes & Topical Questions

5 min read 8 parts Lesson 3 of 7 2 quizzes

📚 Alhussan Physics - Stage 9 Hub / Topical Revision
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Lesson summary

Physics 12.3 Energy transfer: conduction — Lattice Vibrations and Delocalised Electrons — Alhussan International Academy — Physics (Stages 7–9) notes: Name conductors and insulators, explain conduction using particles and explain why some materials feel warmer than others.Conduct…

  • Contact needed
  • Warm feeling
  • Thermal conductors
  • All solids
  • Skin detects energy transfer
  • Metal handlebar

Section 1 of 8What conduction is

Conduction
Conduction the transfer of energy through a solid.
Contact needed
  • It needs particles in contact, so it cannot happen through a vacuum.
Direction
  • Energy moves from the hot end to the cold end of an object.
Warm feeling
  • If you touch something hotter than your skin, energy moves from the object to your hand, so it feels warm.
Example
  • A burning splint can be held at the cool end because energy is not transferred easily along the wood.

Section 2 of 8Conductors and insulators

Thermal conductors
  • Solids that transfer energy well, such as metals.
  • Cooking pans are often made of copper because it quickly conducts energy to the food.
Insulators
  • Many non-metals, such as paper, cloth, wood and plastic, transfer energy very slowly.
  • Insulators still conduct, but very slowly.
  • You stir hot food with wooden spoons so you do not burn yourself.
MaterialConductivityUse
Copper, aluminiumGood conductorSaucepans, radiators
Wood, plasticInsulatorPan handles, spoons
Trapped airVery poor conductorDuvets, jackets, double glazing

Section 3 of 8Conduction in terms of particles

Conduction in terms of particles
All solids
  • Particles at the hot end vibrate with more kinetic energy.
  • They bump into neighbours and pass the energy along the lattice from particle to particle.
Metals
  • Free (delocalised) electrons also carry energy.
  • They gain energy at the hot end and move quickly through the lattice.
  • They collide with atoms further along, passing energy on much faster.
  • This is why metals are good conductors.

Section 4 of 8Why some objects feel cold

1Skin detects energy transfer
  • Skin detects the rate of energy transfer, not the temperature itself.
2Metal handlebar
  • Energy is quickly transferred from the hand to the metal, so it feels cold.
3Plastic grip
  • Energy is not transferred quickly away from the hand, so it feels warm.
4Same temperature
  • The metal and plastic are at the same temperature.

Section 5 of 8Liquids and gases

Liquids
  • Liquids such as water are poor conductors compared with metals.
  • An ice cube held down by a weight at the bottom of a test tube does not melt even when the water at the top is boiling.
Gases
  • Gases such as air transfer energy poorly because their particles are far apart.
Trapped fluids
  • Liquids and gases that cannot move around are poor conductors, so they act as insulators.

Section 6 of 8Using insulators to keep warm

Wetsuit
  • A thin layer of water between the skin and the suit is not free to flow away, so the diver loses energy slowly.
Drysuit
  • Clothing underneath traps a layer of air, a very poor conductor, so energy leaves the body slowly.
Clothing and bedding
  • Padded jackets and bedding trap air, and trapped air must be prevented from moving.
Double glazing
  • Two panes of glass with a near vacuum between them insulate houses and reduce fuel bills, since a vacuum is an even better insulator.

Section 7 of 8Key terms

TermMeaning
ConductionThe transfer of energy through a material by particles passing on vibrations or electrons.
ConductorA material that transfers energy well.
InsulatorA material that transfers energy poorly.
Delocalised electronsFree electrons in a metal that carry energy and charge.
LatticeThe regular arrangement of particles in a solid.
VacuumA space with no particles.

Section 8 of 8Exam technique

1
Thinking insulators trap heat — they slow the transfer of energy.
2
Thinking metals are colder than plastic in a room — they only feel colder because they conduct energy from your hand faster.
3
Thinking conduction can occur through a vacuum — it needs particles.
4
Thinking insulators do not conduct at all — they conduct very slowly.

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