How is Heat Transferred

You've already learned about the three types of heat transfer. Now, you will learn about how heat effects atoms and molecules. In a solid object, the atoms and molecules are tightly packed together. This is the reason why the objects maintains a solid form. If the object is heated, the molecules start moving faster making it harder to keep the object together. This turns the object into liquid, like ice into water. Heat transfer is when faster moving molecules make molecules around them move faster, transferring heat. In conduction, the faster moving molecules collide with the slower moving molecules, pushing and shoving them to make them go faster too. This is what happens if you get a burned. Convection on the other hand, is when heat is transferred through liquids and gasses. When molecules in gasses and liquids get heated they start moving faster and farther apart making the gas/liquid lighter. This is what makes steam and smoke rise. Finally radiaton. Heat and light enegy can be transferred through a vacuum by radiation. Heat in the form of radiation travels through space in electromagnetic waves. An example would be the heat from the sun or a fire. We all radiate heat, no matter how little. We call it body heat!