Students use the particle model to explain how thermal energy moves by conduction, convection and radiation, classify everyday examples of each and compare conductors and insulators. They analyse cooling data from an investigation into insulating materials, calculate temperature drops and rates of cooling, and explain how a vacuum flask reduces all three types of heat transfer.
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Curriculum: Australian Curriculum. We show specific outcome codes only where they have been verified against the official curriculum document.
Completed: Heat Transfer: Conduction, Convection and Radiation
Year 8 students (typically ages 13–14) working on energy, light, sound & electricity. It is pitched at level 2 · standard.
Yes. The PDF includes a full answer sheet with model answers and success criteria where there is more than one good answer. You can also view the answers online.
About 40 minutes for 15 questions. Short, regular sessions work best: two or three a week beats one long one.
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Try Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy Resources for Electricity.
Success TutoringWorksheetsYear 8 · Science · Energy, Light, Sound & ElectricityName
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Use particle ideas in your answers: vibrating particles (conduction), moving fluids (convection), waves that need no particles (radiation).
For each example, choose the main way thermal energy is transferred.
Thermal energy always moves from a hotter object or region to a colder one.
Conduction: particles in a solid vibrate faster when heated and pass energy to neighbouring particles by collisions. Metals are the best conductors because they also have free electrons that carry energy quickly.
Convection: in a liquid or gas, heated particles spread out, so the warm fluid becomes less dense and rises. Cooler, denser fluid sinks to replace it, forming a convection current.
Radiation: all objects give off infrared radiation. It travels as waves, needs no particles and can cross a vacuum. Dark, dull surfaces absorb and emit radiation well; light, shiny surfaces reflect it.
A student filled three identical cups with 200 mL of water at 80 °C. One cup had no cover, one was wrapped in foam and one in cloth. After 10 minutes the temperatures were: no cover 45 °C, foam 71 °C, cloth 62 °C.
Preview — the PDF contains the full resource and answer sheet.
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