Heat Flow and Thermal Equilibrium

Heat flow

Heat flows from a hot object to a cold object

Ways of heat flow

Conduction, convection and radiation

Conduction

The process of heat transfer from hotter regions to colder regions through a solid medium

Convection

Heat is transferred by the movement of fluid (liquid and gas) from hotter regions to colder regions

Radiation

The process of transferring heat without any medium

Heat flow (radiation) in natural phenomena

Heat energy from the Sun is transferred to the earth through radiation

Heat flow (convection) in natural phenomena

The formation of land breeze and sea breeze

Heat conductors

Materials that allow heat flow

Heat insulators

Materials that prevent heat flow

Thermal equilibrium

There is not net transfer of heat energy between the objects