Lesson 2: Heat Transfer — Conduction, Convection, and Radiation

How does thermal energy move through different materials at the particle level?

What conditions determine whether conduction, convection, or radiation dominates heat transfer?

How does particle motion explain temperature change in solids, liquids, and gases?

Why does convection occur in fluids but not in solids?

How does radiation transfer energy without direct contact or a medium?

How do multiple heat transfer mechanisms operate simultaneously in real systems?

Thermal energy
Heat
Conduction
Convection
Radiation
Insulator
Conductor
Fluid
Temperature
Particle motion
Thermal equilibrium
Energy transfer
Absorption
Emission

HS-PS3-1
Develop and use models to analyze energy transfer within systems, including thermal energy movement
HS-PS3-2
Apply the law of conservation of energy to explain how thermal energy is transferred and redistributed within systems
NGSS Crosscutting Concepts
Energy and Matter
Cause and Effect
Systems and System Models
Structure and Function
Stability and Change

Interpret diagrams showing conduction, convection, and radiation in physical systems

Analyze environmental systems such as oceans, atmosphere, and Earth’s surface energy balance

Apply particle-level reasoning to explain macroscopic temperature changes

Construct CER explanations supported by experimental or modeled evidence

Students will investigate how thermal energy is transferred through conduction, convection, and radiation by analyzing particle motion and energy flow across systems. Students will connect microscopic interactions to macroscopic temperature changes and apply models to real-world environments.

Students will also evaluate how multiple heat transfer processes interact simultaneously in Earth and engineered systems.

Activities may include:

Conduction lab using metals and heat sources to measure temperature change
Convection modeling using water tanks or digital fluid simulations
Radiation comparison using heat lamps and surface materials
Analysis of atmospheric and oceanic heat transfer systems
Particle motion modeling of solids, liquids, and gases
CER writing based on experimental heat transfer evidence

Purpose: Strengthen students’ ability to connect particle-level motion to system-level energy transfer and apply multiple heat transfer models to real-world situations.

DOK Level: 3–4 (Strategic Thinking to Extended Reasoning)

Weather and climate systems driven by atmospheric and ocean heat transfer

Cooking and food preparation processes

Building design and insulation for energy efficiency

Clothing design for thermal regulation in different climates

Ocean currents and global climate regulation

Heat rises because it is “lighter” rather than due to density differences

Cold moves instead of heat transferring

Radiation requires a medium to travel

Conduction only occurs in metals

All heat transfer processes happen separately rather than simultaneously

Particle-level visual models of heat transfer

Step-by-step lab scaffolding with structured data tables

CER writing frames for explaining heat transfer mechanisms

Guided simulations with adjustable variables

Group comparison tasks for conduction vs convection vs radiation

Color-coded heat flow diagrams

• Lab data analysis and conclusions
• Heat transfer diagram labeling and interpretation
• Quizzes on conduction, convection, and radiation
• CER explanations supported by experimental evidence
• Exit tickets identifying heat transfer types in real-world scenarios
• Simulation-based prediction tasks

• Heat lamps and infrared sources
• Metal rods, spoons, or conductors
• Water tanks or convection simulation tools
• Thermometers or digital probes
• Heat transfer diagrams and modeling worksheets
• Particle motion visualization tools