How Does Heat Transfer Work in Keeping Your Hands Warm?
How did the student warm her hands with a hand warmer?
a: Heat was transferred by conduction, resulting in an increase in kinetic energy.
b: Heat was transformed by convection, resulting in the conservation of energy.
c: Thermal energy was transferred by currents, resulting in an increase in kinetic energy.
d: Heat was transformed by radiation, resulting in an increase in kinetic energy.
The student's hands were warmed through heat transfer by conduction.
Explanation: The best description for how the student's hands were warmed is a: Heat was transferred by conduction, resulting in an increase in kinetic energy. Conduction is the transfer of heat by two objects that are in direct contact with one another. In this case, the activated hand warmer inside the glove was in direct contact with the student's hands, resulting in the transfer of heat and an increase in kinetic energy, which made her hands warm. This is different from convection, which involves heat transfer through the macroscopic movement of a fluid, and radiation, which occurs when electromagnetic radiation is emitted or absorbed.
Heat transfer plays a crucial role in keeping our hands warm in cold weather, especially during outdoor activities like attending football games. When the student activated the hand warmer and tucked it into her glove, heat transfer by conduction occurred. Conduction is the process by which heat is transferred between objects that are in direct contact with each other.
In this case, the hand warmer inside the glove was directly in contact with the student's hands. As a result, heat energy from the hand warmer was transferred to the student's hands, increasing their kinetic energy and ultimately warming them up. This demonstrates how effective conduction can be in transferring heat and keeping our hands comfortable in cold temperatures.
It's important to understand the different mechanisms of heat transfer, such as conduction, convection, and radiation, to make informed decisions on how to stay warm in various conditions. By knowing how heat transfer works, we can better equip ourselves with the right tools and strategies to stay comfortable and safe when facing cold weather challenges.