Designing for Heat Transfer
Aligned to MS-PS3-3 — Next Generation Science Standards.
What this lesson teaches
Thermal energy moves from warmer to cooler objects by conduction, convection, and radiation. A good insulator slows this transfer, while a good conductor speeds it up.
Worked examples
Example 1
A vacuum flask keeps coffee hot by blocking all three paths — a vacuum stops conduction and convection, and a shiny inner wall reflects radiation back into the drink.
Example 2
A house is insulated the same way: fiberglass traps air to stop conduction, and a radiant barrier in the attic reflects heat away.
Example 3
There is no such thing as blocking cold. Insulation slows heat leaving, which is why the same wall keeps a house warm in winter and cool in summer.
Practice questions
- Design an insulated cup that keeps ice from melting and label the materials you chose.
- Observe and record the temperature of water in two different containers over time.
- Explain how you would redesign your cup to transfer heat faster instead of slower.
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
Diseñar para la Transferencia de Calor
La energía térmica se mueve de los objetos más calientes a los más fríos por conducción, convección y radiación. Un buen aislante frena esta transferencia, mientras que un buen conductor la acelera.
Ejemplo 1: Un termo mantiene el café caliente al bloquear las tres vías — el vacío detiene la conducción y la convección, y una pared interior brillante refleja la radiación de vuelta hacia la bebida.
Ejemplo 2: Una casa se aísla igual: la fibra de vidrio atrapa aire para frenar la conducción, y una barrera radiante en el ático refleja el calor hacia afuera.
Ejemplo 3: No existe bloquear el frío. El aislamiento frena la salida del calor, por eso la misma pared mantiene una casa caliente en invierno y fresca en verano.
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