Heat Transfer Sandbox

Explore the three ways heat energy moves: Conduction, Convection, and Radiation.

Three Modes of Transfer

Heat is thermal energy in transit, and it always flows from a hotter object to a colder one. There are three fundamental ways this can happen:
Conduction: Transfer through direct molecular contact.
Convection: Transfer through the bulk movement of fluids.
Radiation: Transfer via electromagnetic waves.

How to Use the Sandbox

  • Use the top buttons to select a demonstration scene for each type of heat transfer.
  • Each scene starts paused. Press Start to begin the heat flow.
  • In the "Radiation" scene, you can click and drag the thermometer to measure temperature at different locations.
  • The "What's Happening?" panel explains the process in real-time.

Select Demonstration

What's Happening?

Live Data