Three mechanisms of heat transfer include conduction, convection and radiation. Conduction: This is a flow of heat by direct contact. Heat travels from a warmer object toward a colder object. A pan warming on a stove is an example. Convection: This is a transfer of heat by mixing a fluid. Convection occurs within liquids and gases. Examples include boiling water and when warm water mixes with cold water. In meteorology, convection is a common heat transfer mechanisms in the troposphere. Radiation: Radiation is the transfer of energy by electromagnetic radiation. Radiation does not require a medium in which the energy needs to transmit through. Solar radiation warming the Earth’s surface is an example. The radiation transfers from the sun through space and then strikes the Earth. All objects emit radiation. Colder objects emit longer wavelength radiation while warmer objects emit shorter wavelength radiation.  |