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Thermal Lab

Thermal Lab

Content Standards

In this lesson, learners will understand the concepts of heat and temperature, differentiate between them, and explore the three modes of heat transfer — conduction, convection, and radiation — through real-life thermal lab experiments.

Performance Standards

Students will be able to:

  • Differentiate between heat and temperature.
  • Identify and explain conduction, convection, and radiation with working examples.
  • Explain the importance of conductors and insulators in practical situations.
  • Relate principles of heat transfer to everyday applications like cooking, clothing, and climate control.

Alignment Standards

Reference: NCERT Book Alignment 

The lesson is aligned with the NCERT Grade 7 Science Book-Chapter 7:  Heat Transfer, Section: 1 Conduction, Convention, Radiation

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

  • Differentiate between heat and temperature.
  • Explain the three modes of heat transfer: conduction, convection, and radiation
  • Relate experiments to daily life situations.
  • Apply understanding to explain practical designs for heat control.

Prerequisites (Prior Knowledge)

  • Awareness of “hot” and “cold” sensations.
  • Knowledge that heats flows from hotter objects to colder objects.
  • Familiarity with solid, liquid, and gas states.

Introduction

Students will explore how heat moves from one object to another through three modes — conduction, convection, and radiation — using thermal lab experiments. This will help them connect classroom concepts to real-world situations such as cooking, heating systems, and weather patterns.

Timeline (40 Minutes)

TitleApproximate DurationProcedureReference Material
Engage5
  • Why does a metal spoon in hot milk become hot at the other end?
  •  Why do we feel warm standing near a bonfire even if we are not touching it?

Activity:
 – Show two images: 

(1) Show a picture of a hot cup of tea with steam rising, (2) A Bonfire.
 – Ask: “What do you notice?”, “Why does a metal spoon in hot milk feel hot at the other end?”
 Prompt curiosity: “Let’s find out how heat travels , and if heat does require any medium to travel!”

 

Slides

Explore10

1.Show students Burning Incense Sticks ,  Closed room model with AC and room heater


 – Provide prompts:

  •  Why does smoke always rise when an incense stick is burning?
  • Why do the pins fall in a sequence rather than all at once?
  • Why does hot air gather at the ceiling while cold air stays near the floor?
  1. Students discuss in pairs and share answers.

Slides

Explain10

Teacher Explanation:
 1. Define ‘Conduction- heat transfer in solid without movement of particle 

  1. Convention – heat transfer in Liquid and gas with moving particle

3.Radiation:-Heat Transfer without medium
4. Ask:

  • Why do breezes occur near the sea?
  • How do we feel heat from sunlight?
  • Why hot utensil kept away from the flame cools down after some time

Slides and Virtual Lab

Evaluate10

Students will attempt the Self Evaluation Task on LMS.

Virtual Lab

Extend5

Scenario Thinking:

  1. “Imagine designing a classroom for both summer and winter comfort. What features would you include to control heat?”

Discuss the significance of photosynthesis for all living organisms (food source, oxygen production).

Slides

Thermal Lab

Introduction

In nature, heat flows constantly — from the Sun to Earth, from a hot cup of tea to the air, or from your hands to a cold metal spoon. This movement of heat is called heat transfer.

In the Thermal Lab, we study how heat moves through different materials and environments, helping us understand natural processes like warming of land, sea breezes, or even why we wear woollen clothes in winter.

Theory

Introduction:  Heat transfer is the movement of thermal energy from a hotter object to a colder one until both reach the same temperature.

Combustion: -The process of heat transfer from the hotter part of an object to a colder part is called conduction.

Convection: – heat transfer takes place by the actual movement of particles. Land and sea breezes are examples of the process of convection.

Radiation: -Heat travels without needing anything to touch. These waves travel through the air (or even empty space!) and carry heat energy with them.

Steps / Process / Rules 

Conducting a Thermal Lab Experiment

Step 1: Select the material (metal, wood, plastic).

Step 2: Place one end in hot water and observe temperature change.

Step 3: Record which materials conduct heat faster.

Step 4: For convection – heat water in a beaker with potassium permanganate crystals to see currents.

Step 5: For radiation – place objects at different distances from a lamp and record heat received.

Applications / Why is it Useful?

Here are some real-world situations where we use integers:

  1. Conduction: Earth’s surface warms rocks, soil, and water by direct contact.
  2. Convection: Winds, ocean currents, and boiling water.
  3. Radiation: Sunlight warming Earth and our bodies.

Real-life applications:

  1. Cooking food (conduction & convection).
  2. Sea and land breeze formation.
  3. Greenhouse effect.

Vocabulary

  1. Heat Transfer – Movement of heat energy from hot to cold regions.
  2. Conduction – Heat transfer through solid materials in contact.
  3. Convection – Heat transfer in liquids and gases through particle motion.
  4. Radiation – Heat transfer via electromagnetic waves without direct contact.
  5. Thermal Energy – Energy due to movement of particles in matter.
  6. Insulator – A material that resists heat flow (e.g., wood, plastic).
  7. Conductor – A material that allows heat to flow easily (e.g., metal).
  8. Convection Current – Circular movement of warm and cool fluid.
  9. Thermal Equilibrium – When two objects reach the same temperature.
  10. Solar Radiation – Heat energy from the Sun reaching Earth.

Thermal Lab

Category

Introduction

Welcome to the Thermal Lab, an immersive experience designed to help students explore how heat moves in nature through conduction, convection, and radiation. This lab simulates real-world scenarios where learners can visualize and interact with the invisible flow of heat, making abstract concepts clear and memorable.

Key Features

  • 3D immersive environments for each type of heat transfer.
  • Interactive simulations: metal rod conduction, convection in a closed room, and radiation near a bonfire.
  • Realistic animations showing how heat flows in solids, liquids, gases, and even across empty space.
  • Comparative mode: side-by-side view of conduction, convection, and radiation.
  • MCQs are integrated at the end of each module for engagement.

Step-by-Step Procedure for VR Experience

Step 1: Enter the Virtual Lab
Students see a menu with three options: Conduction, Convection, and Radiation. Selecting one begins the corresponding simulation.

Step 2: Initiating Heat Transfer

  • A knob is turned on, marking the start of the experiment.

Step 3: Conduction Simulation

  •  Students watch heat move through a metal rod as pins fall one by one, showing how heat passes through solids by direct contact. Students can click the Next button to move to the next stage.
  • They can also use the Reload option to restart this part and observe again.

Step 4: Convection Simulation

  • Students enter a virtual closed room with a heater and an AC. They observe warm air rising and cool air sinking, creating a circulation pattern.
  • Again, the Next button takes them to the following step, or Reload allows repetition.

Step 5: Convection Concept Reinforcement

  • The system highlights that hot air is lighter and rises, while cold air is heavier and sinks. This reinforces the idea of fluid movement in convection.

Step 6: Radiation Simulation

  • Students stand near a virtual bonfire or lamp to experience how heat is transferred without any medium, representing radiation.
  • They can reload this step if they want to revisit the concept.

Step 7: Quiz / Self-Evaluation

  • At the end, students attempt a short MCQ quiz to test their understanding of conduction, convection, and radiation.
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