The main type of radiation involved in heat transfer is
the Infra Red Wave. It transfers the most amount of
heat energy.
Some surfaces absorb and emit radiation better than others.
Matt black surfaces are great at
absorbing radiation.
Reflective white surfaces are
bad at absorbing and emitting
heat
Radiation is the least efficient of
the methods to transfer energy
Convection
The convection process is exactly that of which
occurs within the earth's Mantle.
The magma in the mantle is about as thick as Jam
Firstly a particle with high energy rises through the
fluid (or gas) transferring energy to other particles
as it collides with them. If it has enough energy it
can escape the fluid (Not GAS) if not however it
simply floats back down to be reheated.
The process kinda looks like a
circle when drawn out.
A liquid can be evaporated without the whole body of it reaching
boiling temperature. (Like a puddle on a warmish day). Only some
of the particles have the energy to escape the fluid. the ones that
do escape take away from the net temperature of the body of liquid.
On a cup of tea for example you blow the escaped particles away
from the top so there is more of a concentration difference between
the air and the water. This there for increase the rate of
evaporation.
Conduction
Heat energy can move through a substance by conduction.
Metals are good conductors of heat but non-metals and gases
are usually poor conductors of heat. Poor conductors of heat are
called insulators. Heat energy is conducted from the hot end of
an object to the cold end.
Air and bad insulators such as
plastic are used to insulate. A
good example of this is overhead
mains cables.
Heat always travels to colder
area (like diffusion but with
heat).
For example you can heat one end of a
metal rod and the other end will eventually
have a temperature increase due to
conduction.
Insulation
Coffee cups in cafes tend to be made
from polystyrene because it is a good
insulator.
Installations such as cavity wall
insulation remove conduction
from the equation