Conduction, convection, and radiation
Describe and compare the three mechanisms of heat transfer — conduction (particle vibration through solids), convection (fluid movement in liquids/gases), and radiation (infrared waves) — and explain that the rate of transfer depends on temperature difference
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Conduction, convection, and radiation means practising the idea at the table with a simple hands-on check. We will demo once, then your child tries.
Materials: A battery, bulb, and wires OR a warm/cool cup comparison setup; Paper for a simple energy-path note. 1. Say the goal of Conduction, convection, and radiation in plain words once. 2. Adult shows one energy transfer (circuit lights, or heat moving to a cooler hand nearby) and names the path. 3. Child traces or describes three energy paths and says what changed. 4. Fresh check: one fresh energy-path description. Record and stop. Done: three energy-path notes with a before/after change. Proof: parent note of examples and results. Stop: End after the fresh check; keep optional challenge for another day.
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Start practiceConduction, convection, and radiation practice
Practice key ideas from Conduction, convection, and radiation.
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Learning resources
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PhET Interactive Simulations · Practice link — not the full lesson
Energy Forms and Changes
Before you open · source notes
Energy Forms and Changes supports hands-on exploration for Conduction, convection, and radiation. Not every lab worksheet.
Free interactive page, no sign-in required for the tested path.
Before you openAsk the learner what they changed in the sim or page and what they observed.
Opening this link does not save learning or assess mastery.
Source, access and review notes
Public PhET Interactive Simulations page. An anonymous GET on 2026-11-12 returned HTTP 200 with no login or payment prompt for this URL. Opening the link does not save practice or assess mastery. An adult should preview and guide the learner.
PhET Interactive Simulations. “Energy Forms and Changes.” External page; Gakuva does not copy, host, embed, or redistribute materials.
Unknown — link only
Check understanding
- Explains the particle-level mechanism for conduction and why metals are good conductors
- Describes a convection current using particle theory and gives a real-world example
- Explains that all objects emit and absorb infrared radiation and how surface colour affects this
- States that a greater temperature difference increases the rate of heat transfer
“If your child was heating soup on a hob and also warming their hands by a radiator, could they explain which type of heat transfer is happening in each case — and why the soup pot gets hot throughout even though it’s only heated at the bottom?”
Curriculum record
- Type
- Conceptual
- Subject
- Science
- Domain
- Energy
- Age range
- Ages 12–13
Standards