Rate of Heat Loss

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Rate of Heat Loss

Introduction

My investigation is to find out the factors that affect rate of which heat transfer happens. Heat transfer is a process in which energy in the form of heat energy is exchanged between materials that are at a different temperature. Heat is generally transferred by conduction, convection, radiation and evaporation. All of these processes can all happen simultaneously but it is likely that one will give the greater heat exchange. Heat is exchanged through the brick wall by conduction. The surfaces of a high-speed aircraft are heated up by convection. The earth is heated by heat that is being radiated from the sun.

These experiments involve the temperature of water taken at regular intervals from various different cups of different materials.

Here is a description of the following processes that will affect my experiment:

Conduction

This is where heat energy passes through the walls of the can by making the particles of the can vibrate and then they will make the particles next to them vibrate causing the heat to pass through the walls of the can and out to the surroundings.

Convection

This is where the cooler water particles sink down to the bottom and the warmer water particles float up to the top. Convection will only affect my experiment if I did not have a lid. This is because the warm water will float up to the top and the heat energy will escape out of the top.

Radiation

This is when the warm water particles vibrate the water particles next to them. This will give them more energy and will make the water therefore warmer. The water particles at the top of the can will radiate the heat energy into the surrounding air. For heat to radiate it does not need to be in contact with matter. Heat can radiate for some thing to another body through a complete vacuum, this is how the sun heats up the earth. This process can also be called the Wave Motion.
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Evaporation

This could cool down the water, as when the water evaporates it will take the heat away with it in the same way evaporating sweat cools down our bodies. If I use a lid this could slow down this process. As the water vapor will not be able to escape into the air as quickly as it would normally keeping the heat in for longer.

Factors

There are many factors, which can affect my experiment. The factors are:

If a lid is used

There will be a great difference in the ...

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