Difference Between

Conduction, Convection and

Radiation

While conduction is the

transfer of heat energy by
direct contact, convection
is the movement of heat by
actual motion of matter;
radiation is the transfer of
energy with the help of
electromagnetic waves.

The matter is present

around us, in three states,
solid, liquid and gas. The
conversion of matter from
one state to another is
termed as a change in state,
that takes place due to the
exchange of heat between
the matter and its
surroundings. So, heat is the
transition of energy from
one system to another, due
to the difference in
temperature, which occurs
in three different ways, that
are conduction, convection
and radiation.

People often misconstrue,

these forms of heat transfer
but, they are based on
diverse physical interaction
to transfer energy. To study
the difference between
conduction, convection and
radiation, letʼs take a look at
the article provided below.

Definition of
Conduction
Conduction can be
understood as the process,
which enables direct
transfer of heat through the
matter, due to the difference
in temperature, between
adjacent parts of the object.
It happens when the
temperature of the
molecules present in a
substance increase,
resulting in vigorous
vibration. The molecules
collide with surrounding
molecules, making them
vibrate too, resulting in the
transportation of thermal
energy to neighbouring part
of the object.

In simple terms, whenever

two objects are in direct
contact with one another,
there will be a transfer of
heat from the hotter object
to the colder one, which is
due to conduction. Further,
the objects which permit
heat to travel easily through
them are called conductors.

Definition of
Convection
In science, Convection
implies the form of heat
transfer, by real movement
of matter, that occurs only in
fluids. Fluid alludes to any
substance, whose molecules
move freely from one place
to another, such as liquid
and gases. It happens
naturally or even forcefully.

Gravity has a great role to

play in natural convection
such that when the
substance is heated from
below, leads to the
expansion of the hotter part.
Due to buoyancy, the hotter
substance rises as it is less
dense and the colder
substance replaces it by
sinking at the bottom, due to
high density, which when
gets hot moves upward, and
the process continues. In
convection, on heating up
the substance, itʼs
molecules disperse and
moves apart.

When the convection is

performed forcefully, the
substance is compelled to
move upwards by any
physical means such as the
pump. E.g. Air heating
system.

Definition of Radiation
The heat transfer
mechanism in which no
medium is required is called
radiation. It refers to the
movement of heat in waves,
as it does not need
molecules to travel through.
The object need not be in
direct contact with one
another to transmit heat.
Whenever you feel heat
without actually touching
the object, it is because of
radiation. Moreover, colour,
surface orientation, etc. are
some of the surface
properties on which
radiation depends greatly.

In this process, the energy is

transmitted through
electromagnetic waves
called as radiant energy. Hot
objects generally emit
thermal energy to cooler
surroundings. Radiant
energy is capable of
travelling in the vacuum from
its source to the cooler
surroundings. The best
example of radiation is solar
energy that we get from the
sun, even though, it is miles
aways from us.

Key Differences
Between Conduction,
Convection and
Radiation
The substantial differences
between conduction,
convection and radiation are
explained as under:
N. Conduction is a process
in which heat is
transported between
parts of a continuum,
through direct physical
contact. Convection is
the principle, wherein
heat is transmitted by
currents in a fluid, i.e.
liquid or gas. Radiation
is the heat transfer
 mechanism, in which the
transition takes place
through electromagnetic
waves.
P. Conduction shows, how
heat is transferred
between objects in
direct contact, but
Convection reflects how
heat travels through
liquids and gases. As
against this, radiation
indicates how heat
travels through places
having no molecules.
Q. Conduction takes place
as a result of the
difference in
temperature, i.e. heat
streams from high-
temperature area to low
temperature area.
Convection happens
due to the variation in
density, such that the
heat moves from low-
density region to high-
density region. On the
contrary, all object
release heat, having a
 temperature more than
0 K.
T. Conduction usually
occurs in solids, through
molecular collision.
Convection occurs in
fluids by mass motion of
molecules in the same
direction. In contrast,
Radiation takes place
through the vacuum of
space and does not heat
up the intervening
medium.
U. The transfer of heat is
through heated solid
substance, in
conduction, whereas in
convection the heat
energy is transmitted by
way of intermediate
medium. Unlike, ration
uses electromagnetic
waves to transfer heat.
V. The speed of
conduction and
convection is slower
than radiation.
W. Conduction and
convection do not follow
 the law of reflection and
refraction, whereas,
radiation obeys the
same.

Conclusion
Thermodynamics is the
study of heat transfer and
the changes related to it.
Conduction is nothing but
the heat transfer from the
hotter part to the colder one.
Convection is the heat
transfer by up and down
motion of the fluid. Radiation
occurs when heat travels
through empty space.