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Science Quiz - Physics - Conduction and Convection (AQA) (Questions)

Learn how heat moves by conduction and convection, from hot pans on a cooker to sea breezes and radiators warming a room in GCSE Physics.

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Fascinating Fact:

Everyday convection examples include sea breezes, boiling water and thermals that lift gliders.

In GCSE Science (Physics), you compare conduction in solids with convection in liquids and gases. You explain particle movement, draw heat transfer diagrams and link ideas to everyday heating and cooling.

Key Terms

Conduction: Transfer of heat through a solid when particles pass energy to neighbours by vibrating and colliding.
Convection: Transfer of heat in liquids and gases when warmer, less dense regions rise and cooler regions sink.
Convection current: A circulating flow in a fluid caused by heating, where warm fluid rises and cooler fluid falls.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What is the difference between conduction and convection?

Conduction is heat transfer through a solid by vibrating particles in contact. Convection is heat transfer in liquids or gases caused by the movement of warmer, less dense fluid.

What are some everyday examples of convection?

Everyday examples include air circulating above a radiator, water circulating in a pan as it boils, and large-scale movements such as sea breezes near the coast.

Why do metals conduct heat better than non-metals?

Metals conduct heat well because they have free electrons that move quickly through the structure, carrying energy and passing it on efficiently to other particles.

Try These Related Quizzes

1.

In what substances can convection occur?

[ ]	Solids
[ ]	Only liquids
[ ]	Liquids and gases
[ ]	Only gases

2.

What is the main way that heat passes through a brick in the wall of a building?

[ ]	Convection
[ ]	Conduction
[ ]	Radiation
[ ]	All of the above

3.

How does extra heat affect the particles of a metal?

[ ]	It makes them vibrate faster
[ ]	It makes them move around more and change places, reducing its density
[ ]	It slows down the movement of the particles
[ ]	It melts them

4.

Why are metals good heat conductors?

[ ]	They are shiny and solid
[ ]	Their particles are far apart
[ ]	Their particles are packed close together
[ ]	They are malleable and ductile

5.

Houses built with thick stone walls usually stay cooler inside during the summer than houses built with thinner brick walls. Why might this be?

[ ]	Conduction is slower through the thicker walls
[ ]	No convection can occur through the thicker walls
[ ]	No conduction can occur through the thicker walls
[ ]	The clay used to make bricks always contains some impurities that make it a better conductor of heat than stone

6.

Which state(s) of matter is (or are) fluids?

[ ]	Solids and liquids
[ ]	Liquids only
[ ]	Liquids and gases
[ ]	Gases only

7.

"Particles with more energy move in to take the place of particles with less energy"
What method of heat transfer is being described in the previous sentence?

[ ]	Sublimation
[ ]	Conduction
[ ]	Convection
[ ]	Radiation

8.

Thunderstorms are created by which form(s) of energy transfer in the atmosphere?

[ ]	Convection
[ ]	Evaporation and conduction
[ ]	Radiation only
[ ]	Conduction and radiation

9.

On a sunny day, why is it slightly harder to swim back to the shore of a lake than to swim towards the centre?

[ ]	The sun makes the water at the edge of the lake expand more than at the centre so you are swimming uphill
[ ]	The sun heats shallow water at the edge faster than the deep water, creating a convection current that flows towards the centre
[ ]	You are more tired because you have already swum out to the centre of the lake
[ ]	There is no difference

10.

Why do hot air ballons rise?

[ ]	The flames from the burner are going upwards and they push the balloon into the air
[ ]	The helium they contain is lighter than air
[ ]	The heat from the burners causes the air inside to become less dense
[ ]	They only rise because the pilot throws out some weight from the basket

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Energy and heating - AQA

Science Quiz - Physics - Conduction and Convection (AQA) (Answers)

1.

In what substances can convection occur?

[ ]	Solids
[ ]	Only liquids
[x]	Liquids and gases
[ ]	Only gases

Convection occurs in any fluid

2.

What is the main way that heat passes through a brick in the wall of a building?

[ ]	Convection
[x]	Conduction
[ ]	Radiation
[ ]	All of the above

A brick is an opaque solid so the only way heat can pass through it is by conduction

3.

How does extra heat affect the particles of a metal?

[x]	It makes them vibrate faster
[ ]	It makes them move around more and change places, reducing its density
[ ]	It slows down the movement of the particles
[ ]	It melts them

The particles of any solid are fixed in place so the increased energy available from the heat makes them vibrate more vigorously

4.

Why are metals good heat conductors?

[ ]	They are shiny and solid
[ ]	Their particles are far apart
[x]	Their particles are packed close together
[ ]	They are malleable and ductile

As well as having close packed particles, the free electrons in their structure can transport the heat energy through the metal

5.

Houses built with thick stone walls usually stay cooler inside during the summer than houses built with thinner brick walls. Why might this be?

[x]	Conduction is slower through the thicker walls
[ ]	No convection can occur through the thicker walls
[ ]	No conduction can occur through the thicker walls
[ ]	The clay used to make bricks always contains some impurities that make it a better conductor of heat than stone

This question is testing if you know that one of the factors affecting conduction is the thickness

6.

Which state(s) of matter is (or are) fluids?

[ ]	Solids and liquids
[ ]	Liquids only
[x]	Liquids and gases
[ ]	Gases only

Fluids are substances that can flow

7.

"Particles with more energy move in to take the place of particles with less energy"
What method of heat transfer is being described in the previous sentence?

[ ]	Sublimation
[ ]	Conduction
[x]	Convection
[ ]	Radiation

Whenever you see a question that deals with heat transfer by moving particles it has to be convection

8.

Thunderstorms are created by which form(s) of energy transfer in the atmosphere?

[x]	Convection
[ ]	Evaporation and conduction
[ ]	Radiation only
[ ]	Conduction and radiation

Thunderstorms are created when large amounts of hot moist air rise through the atmosphere. As the moist air rises it cools and the moisture condenses to form rain. The size and speed of movement in this enormous convection current creates high winds and static electricity sparks which you see as lightning

9.

On a sunny day, why is it slightly harder to swim back to the shore of a lake than to swim towards the centre?

[ ]	The sun makes the water at the edge of the lake expand more than at the centre so you are swimming uphill
[x]	The sun heats shallow water at the edge faster than the deep water, creating a convection current that flows towards the centre
[ ]	You are more tired because you have already swum out to the centre of the lake
[ ]	There is no difference

Since water is transparent the sun can't heat it directly. At the edge, it heats the bed of the lake since the water is shallow. The warmth of the lake bed transfers heat to the water, making it less dense. The less dense water rises, creating a convection current that flows away from the shore. A strong swimmer would probably not notice the difference

10.

Why do hot air ballons rise?

[ ]	The flames from the burner are going upwards and they push the balloon into the air
[ ]	The helium they contain is lighter than air
[x]	The heat from the burners causes the air inside to become less dense
[ ]	They only rise because the pilot throws out some weight from the basket

Less dense air will rise, exactly as in a convection current. Because it is trapped in the balloon, the balloon goes with it