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Convection, Conduction, and Radiation

The site has step by step instructions for various demonstrations, activities, and experiments for convection, conduction, and radiation.  There are also topics for journaling in science notebooks and assessments. This site provides background knowledge for teachers and it also provides very detailed instructions to perform the experiments.  The materials required to perform the demonstrations and activities are low cost.  The print outs that are provided offer ideas for journaling or assessment.

Weblink address (URL): 
Convection, Conduction, and Radiation

Lesson Variations

Blooms taxonomy level: 
Understanding
Extension suggestions: 
  • Invite a health care professional to discuss how your body maintains temperature and why you might have a fever when you are sick.
  • Show either or both of the DVDs The Convection of Heat or Bill Nye’s Heat to reinforce the concepts of energy, conduction, convection, and radiation.
  • Show the seven-minute video from NASA entitled Infrared: More Than Your Eyes Can See to learn more about infrared radiation.
  • Invite a firefighter to discuss fire prevention, how knowledge of heat transfer is important to get out alive, why a fire must be vented, and the difference in temperature between the top of a room and the floor.
  • Learn about the importance of heat when blowing glass. If possible, attend a glass blowing demonstration. The Bill Nye video contains a small section about glass blowing.
Interdisciplinary opportunities: 
  • Cook a meal using a Dutch or solar oven. Discuss how conduction, convection, and radiation help in the cooking process.
  • Carefully place a paper cup full of water in a fire and watch it boil. Make sure the cup is surrounded by glowing embers. Discuss how conduction, convection, and radiation prevent the cup from burning.

Helpful Hints

Materials:

  • Ball and ring set
  • Hot plate
  • Science journals

References

Contributors: 
Jennifer Hassell
Originator: 
Ayers Institute for Learning & Innovation