Energy in Action
This type of energy transfer is why a metal bench feels hot after sitting in the sun all day. What is it?
Conduction
You wake up to find that your car’s windshield is covered in tiny droplets, even though it didn’t rain. What process caused this?
Condensation—water vapor in the air cooled and changed into liquid.
A company is creating gloves for astronauts to use in space, where temperatures are extreme. What key factor must they consider?
The gloves must insulate against both extreme cold and heat.
When you touch a hot metal spoon that was left in a pot of soup, heat moves from the spoon to your hand. What is this type of heat transfer?
Conduction
If water vapor cools down enough, it changes into tiny liquid droplets in the air. What is this process called?
Condensation
A scientist notices that a cold drink warms up after sitting outside for a while. What law of energy explains this?
The Law of Conservation of Energy—heat moves from the warmer air to the colder drink.
A powerful hurricane is forming over the ocean. What is the main energy source driving its strength?
Heat from the warm ocean water fuels the storm.
An inventor wants to create a device that prevents heat from escaping a house in the winter. What type of material should they focus on?
Insulating materials like foam to trap heat inside.
A house with dark roof tiles is always hotter inside than a house with light-colored tiles. What type of energy transfer explains this?
Radiation, because dark colors absorb more heat from sunlight.
During a hot day, a puddle on the sidewalk disappears. What process is responsible?
Evaporation
A group of hikers needs gear that will help them stay warm in freezing temperatures. What property should their clothing have?
Insulation to prevent heat loss.
A student notices water droplets forming on the outside of a soda bottle on a hot day. What does this tell us about the air around the bottle?
The air is humid, and as it touches the cold surface of the bottle, the water vapor condenses.
A scientist develops a new type of cooler that keeps food cold for longer than regular coolers. What should they test to prove it works?
Compare how long ice lasts inside the new cooler versus a regular one.
A student stands near a fireplace and feels warmth, even though they are not touching the fire. What type of heat transfer is happening?
Radiation—the heat travels through the air in waves.
A river floods after a heavy rainstorm. Name two ways this water can eventually reach the ocean.
It can flow downstream or seep into the ground and travel underground.
If you were designing a lunchbox to keep food cold, would you use metal, plastic, or foam? Explain why.
Foam, because it is a good insulator and slows heat transfer.
Water in a river can take multiple paths to return to the atmosphere. Name three different ways this can happen.
Evaporation, transpiration from plants, and sublimation from ice or snow.
A team is designing hiking gear for extreme environments. What two environmental factors should they consider in their design?
Temperature and moisture, as both affect comfort and safety.
A weather report shows that ocean currents are changing, bringing warm water to colder regions. What is the main way heat moves in ocean currents?
Convection, as warm water rises and cold water sinks, creating circulation.
In a closed terrarium, plants stay hydrated without adding new water. What cycle is responsible for this?
The water cycle—evaporation, condensation, and precipitation happen inside the sealed environment.
In a kitchen, this material is used on certain cookware handles to prevent burns, while others allow heat to transfer quickly for cooking. What are these materials?
Insulators like rubber and wood for handles; conductors like metal for pots and pans.
Imagine a single drop of water starts in a melting glacier. Describe the different stages it might go through before it returns as precipitation.
The drop melts into a stream, evaporates into the air, condenses into a cloud, and falls back as rain or snow.
A school cafeteria wants to keep soup hot while serving hundreds of students. What type of container should they use, and why?
A thermos or insulated container, because it reduces heat loss through conduction, convection, and radiation.
A scientist wants to test how quickly heat moves through different materials. What experiment could they set up?
Heat several materials (metal, plastic, wood) to the same temperature and measure how long they stay warm.
A scientist is tracking a drop of water from a lake to a cloud. What two forms of energy are responsible for this movement?
Solar energy (causes evaporation) and wind energy (moves water vapor into the atmosphere).