Convection is the transfer of heat by
the actual movement of the warmed
matter. Heat leaves the coffee cup as
the currents of steam and air rise.
Convection is the transfer of heat
energy in a gas or liquid by
movement of currents. (It can also
happen is some solids, like sand.)
The heat moves with the fluid.
Consider this: convection is
responsible for making macaroni
rise and fall in a pot of heated water.
The warmer portions of the water
are less dense and therefore, they
rise. Meanwhile, the cooler portions
of the water fall because they are
denser.
Conduction is the transfer of energy
through matter from particle to
particle. It is the transfer and
distribution of heat energy from
atom to atom within a substance.
For example, a spoon in a cup of hot
soup becomes warmer because the
heat from the soup is conducted
along the spoon. Conduction is most
effective in solids-but it can happen
in fluids. Fun fact: Have you ever
noticed that metals tend to feel cold?
Believe it or not, they are not colder!
They only feel colder because they
conduct heat away from your hand.
You perceive the heat that is leaving
your hand as cold.
Radiation: Electromagnetic waves
that directly transport ENERGY
through space. Sunlight is a form of
radiation that is radiated through
space to our planet without the aid
of fluids or solids. The energy travels
through nothingness! Just think of it!
The sun transfers heat through 93
million miles of space. Because there
are no solids (like a huge spoon)
touching the sun and our planet,
conduction is not responsible for
bringing heat to Earth. Since there
are no fluids (like air and water) in
space, convection is not responsible
for transferring the heat. Thus,
radiation brings heat to our planet.