Physics F3

Application of Convection
(a) Domestic hot water supply system

This system works on the principle of Convection Current. Hot water moves from the
boiler to where it is used under convection current. Inside the boiler water is heated
making it less dense, water rises and flow into the hot water reservoir where it is
stored until needed for use main water supply.
Diagram:
(b) Chimneys
Smoke and gases from fires in houses and factories rise up chimneys and the flow is
convection current. Gases pass up a tall chimney faster than up a short one, this is
because high chimneys have greater pressure difference
(c) Ventilation
Damp, warm, breathed – out air is less dense than ordinary air; it rises and can
escape through openings near the roof. Houses and cinemas have openings in or near
their ceilings.
(d) Land and sea breeze
Land and sea breezes are a result of expansion of air caused by unequal heating and
cooling of adjacent land and sea surfaces
 During the day time the land is warmer than the sea thus the air over the land
surface becomes less dense and so it rises. The space left is occupied by cooler
air from above the sea surface. Thus, sea breeze occurs
 During the night time the sea is hotter than the land thus the air over the sea
becomes less dense and therefore replaced by cooler, denser air from the land.
Thus, land breezes occur
Note:
The land gets warmer quickly than the sea, because sea water has a higher heat
capacity than the land (sea water needs more time to raise its temperature)
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(f) Air conditioners
 Air conditioning systems relied on convectional current to heat of cool room.
When it is hot, cool air is blown into the room from the air conditioner. This
sinks to the bottom of the room taking place of the less dense warmer air
(warmer air rises and is led out to be cooled then re – circulated).
 When it is cold, the heated air is turned on heating the surrounding air. The
heated air rises up and cold air moves down to take the place of the rising warm
air. This forms convectional current which continue to circulate until the air in
the room is at the desired temperature
Radiation of heat
Radiation Is the movement of heat by waves emitted by vibrating particles of hot
substances
OR :
is the heat transfer between two or more bodies by means of electromagnetic waves
that do not need material medium.
NB:
 Heat travels in form of infrared radiations
 All bodies at a temperature above absolute zero emit some radiant energy (heat)
 Between the sun and the earth’s atmosphere is a vacuum
 Radiant heat travels with the speed of light and can be reflected , absorbed and
transmitted
 Heat loss by radiation is minimized by covering a body (surrounding) with shiny
surfaces
Radiant Detector
There are two instruments which can be used to detect radiations
i) Thermopile
ii) Liquid in thermometer
Note:
Thermopile T is an instrument used to converts radiant heat energy into electrical
energy
Absorbers, Emitters and Reflectors

Absorber
 Absorber is a material that delivers/gain all radiant energy.
 A surface that absorbs all radiant energy is called black body.
 Good radiators of heat are also good absorbers
 Example, black cooking vessel, black clothes dry faster than others colored clothes etc
Emitter
 Emitter is a material that delivers out all radiant energy.
 A surface that emits all radiant energy is called black body
Reflector
 Reflector is a material (surface) that bounces back all radiant energy.
 Example, white or bright – colored surfaces are poor emitters and absorbers of heat,
solar cookers etc
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Uses of good and bad radiators or absorbers
(a) White clothes.
In hot countries white clothes are slightly cooler than other clothes
(b) White buildings.
These are cooler than buildings with dark colours on the outside. Storage tanks
containing oil or petrol are usually painted with aluminium paint. The polished,
silvery surface is a bad absorber.
(c) Vacuum flask.
This is used to keep hot liquids hot and cold substances cold
Minimizing heat losses by radiation?

• It can be minimized by keeping the place shine (polished).
Thermos Flask
 Thermos flask is a device used to hold hot or cold liquid for long period of time.
 It consists of a double-walled glass (polished by coated with a thin layer of
aluminium), container with vacuum between the walls. It has a stopper made of
insulating materials or cork. Consider the figure below;
How thermos flask prevents heat Loss?

Heat losses by conduction is minimized by
 The stopper which is a bad conductor (made of wood, rubber or cork)
 Glass flask (Poor conductor of heat)
 The supporting pad (separator). It is also a poor conductor of heat
Heat losses by convection can be minimized by
 Vacuum between the walls of the flask
 The stopper which is a bad conductor (made of wood, rubber or cork)
Heat losses by radiation is minimized by
 Using silvered walls (to reflect infrared radiation back to the content of the
thermos flask)
Metal Foil
Is the polished material used to cover items to minimize heat loss by radiation. For
example, aluminium foils are used in wrapping hot food.
How metal foils prevent heat Loss?

Metal foils prevents heat loss by reflecting radiant energy
Page 3 of 4
Applications of radiation
i) Electric kettles, iron boxes and cooking pans have polished surfaces to reduce
heat loss through radiation
ii) Houses in hot regions are painted white to minimize heat absorption through
radiation
iii) Green houses act as heat trap by preventing longer wavelength radiations from
passing through glass
iv) Cloudy nights are warmer than clear nights because clouds reflect radiation back
to the earth
CLASS QUESTIONS
1. Explain what is meant by the conduction of heat .Use the kinetic theory to explain how
heat is transferred along a metal road
2. Explain briefly the reason why steam pipes are covered with felt or asbestos
3. A piece of iron and a piece of wood are both cooled to a temperature of 0 0 C .When
touched with a finger ,the iron feels colder than the wood .Why ?
4. Discuss the uses of good and bad conductors of heat energy in everyday life
5. What do you understand by convection? Describe how you would demonstrate the
formation of convection currents in a liquid
6. Explain the following:
(a) Cork is packed between the double walls of refrigerating chambers
(b) Most cooking pots are made of Aluminium
(c) Ice blocks are wrapped in paper when they are stored
(d) Water tanks in the tropics are painted white
(e) White clothes are worn in the Arctic in preference to dark ones
7. A thermometer having a blackened bulb records a higher than an ordinary
thermometer when they are both held at an equal distance from a fire Explain this
8. Explain briefly how a fire can assist in the ventilation of a room
9. (a) Explain how heat transfer by radiation takes place.
(b)Why does heat transfer by radiation not require a medium?
(c) A good cooking vessel should be black on the outside and not shiny white. Explain.
(d) Give one way through which heat losses by radiation can be prevented.
10. List three areas where heat transfer through each of the following methods is applied:
(a) conduction (b)convection (c)radiation
11. Why is it not possible for heat transfer by convection to take place in solids?
12. Explain the importance of making ventilation on the top of the walls in a room
13. Explain briefly how heat travels in metals
14. How is heat loss by conduction, convection and radiation reduced in a vacuum flask
15. Explain, how land and sea breeze occur
Page 4 of 4

Physics F3

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Physics F3

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Application of Convection

(a) Domestic hot water supply system

Absorbers, Emitters and Reflectors

Minimizing heat losses by radiation?

How thermos flask prevents heat Loss?

How metal foils prevent heat Loss?

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