Heat is energy transfer from one system to another or from one part of a system to another part, arising due to temperature difference.
There are three distinct modes of heat transfer:
- Conduction
- Convection
- Radiation
Conduction
Conduction is the mechanism of transfer of heat between two adjacent parts of a body because of their temperature difference.
Suppose one end of a metallic rod is put in a flame, the other end of the rod will soon be so hot that you cannot hold it with your bare hands. Here heat transfer takes place by conduction from the hot end of the rod through its different parts to the other end. Gases are poor thermal conductors while liquids have conductivities intermediate between solids and gases.
The rate of flow of heat (or heat current) H is proportional to the temperature difference (TC – TD) and the area of cross section A and is inversely proportional to the length L
The constant of proportionality K is called the thermal conductivity of the material.
The greater the value of K for a material, the more rapidly will it conduct heat. The SI unit of K is J S-1 m-1 K-1 or W m-1 K-1.
Convection:
Convection is the process by which heat flows from the region of higher temperature to the region of lower temperature by the actual movement of the material particles.
It is a mode of heat transfer by actual motion of matter. It is possible only in fluids convection can be natural or forced. When a fluid is heated from below, the hot part expands and, therefore, become less dense.
Natural Convection:
If the material moves due to the difference in density, the process of heat transfer is called natural or free convection. In natural convection, gravity plays an important part. Natural convection is responsible for the origin of different types of winds in the atmosphere.
Forced Convection:
If the heated material is forced to move by an agency like a pump or a blower, the process of heat transfer is called forced convection. Air-conditioning, central heating systems and heating a liquid by brisk stirring are examples of forced convection.
Radiation:
Radiation is the process by which heat is transmitted from one place to another without heating the interviewing medium.
When we stand near a fire, we feel warmth because of the heat we receive by the process of radiation. The heat from the sun reaches the earth by the process of radiation, covering millions of kilometers of the empty space or vacuum.
The word radiation is used in two meanings. It refers to the process by which the energy is emitted by a body, is transmitted in space and falls on another body. It also refers to the energy itself which is being transmitted in space.