Heat Exchange
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2002 Volvo C70, 2001 Volvo C70, 2000 Volvo C70, 1999 Volvo C70, and 1998 Volvo C70. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
Heat Exchange Can Take Place In Three Ways
- Through radiation.
- Heat radiation does not depend on a material to transfer the heat. The heat of the sun for example reaches us through radiation.
- By conduction.
- The heat is transferred via contact between different bodies.
- By convection.
- The heat is transferred via a liquid or a gas.
Heat exchange often takes place through a combination of these methods.
For example as in the illustration:
- the heat from the sun is transferred via radiation to a metal post
- from the metal post to the water by conduction
- from the water to the container by convection
Heat transfer can only take place in one direction
Heat is always transferred from an object with a higher temperature to an object with a lower temperature.
The greater the temperature difference, the quicker the transfer of heat.
If a beaker with cold water is placed in a beaker with heated water, the heat will be transferred from the beaker with hot water until the temperature is the same in both beakers.
As the temperature difference between the two beakers reduces, the heat transfer slows down.