Explore the Energy Forms and Changes: Heat Transfer
Heat or cool an iron block, a brick and water, put them together and watch thermal energy flow with a live energy chart. Works on phones and computers.
- Free to use
- No signup
- Nothing to install
- Runs in your browser
Illustration. Open the tool for the real thing.
See it in action
The Energy Forms and Changes: Heat Transfer with sample data entered and the result showing.
What is the Energy Forms and Changes: Heat Transfer?
Heat or cool an iron block, a brick and water, put them together and watch thermal energy flow with a live energy chart. It runs in your browser, so a change to a setting or a drag on an object shows up at once.
Cooking, engines, building insulation and climate all depend on how heat moves between materials.
3 steps to your result
Open the tool and follow along. Nothing to install.
What you get
Heat flows from hot objects to cold ones.
Different materials store different amounts of heat (specific heat capacity).
Water heats up slowly because its specific heat is large.
Heat the iron and the water for the same time.
Put a hot iron block next to a cold brick.
Switch the heater to a cooler.
Used for
Pick one to see how it fits.
Physics learners
Physics students in middle school, high school and first-year university, teachers who want a quick demonstration for the projector, and anyone revising for exams.
Try it freeTeachers
For teachers: project the Energy Forms and Changes: Heat Transfer on the board, let students predict the result, then run it together and test this: Put a hot iron block next to a cold brick. For students: change one thing at a time and write down what changes.
Try it freeHow it compares
A plain look at this tool next to the usual alternative.
| This simulation | Textbook diagram | |
|---|---|---|
| Interactive | Drag, tap and change settings | Fixed picture |
| Install | Nothing to install | Not needed |
| Cost | Free to use | Depends on the book |
Questions people ask
Why does water heat up more slowly than iron?
Water has a much larger specific heat capacity, so it needs more energy for each degree of warming.
What is conduction?
Heat transfer by direct contact between objects or parts of an object.
Is the Energy Forms and Changes: Heat Transfer free to use?
Yes. The Energy Forms and Changes: Heat Transfer is free, needs no signup or download and runs in your web browser. It is part of the Physics group of AZRS simulations.
Does the Energy Forms and Changes: Heat Transfer work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The Energy Forms and Changes: Heat Transfer takes touch input as well as mouse input, so you can use its 2 adjustable settings with a finger. A larger screen makes the controls and graphs easier to read.
How do I use the Energy Forms and Changes: Heat Transfer?
1. In the Energy Forms and Changes: Heat Transfer, use the controls to change Heater (− cooler, + heater), Material of block 1. The simulation reacts instantly. 2. In the Energy Forms and Changes: Heat Transfer, pick an option such as Iron, Brick, Aluminium to switch modes or load an example. 3. In the Energy Forms and Changes: Heat Transfer, press "Reset temperatures" to start, reset or change what is happening. 4. Start with this experiment: Heat the iron and the water for the same time. Drag any glowing handle, object or slider with your mouse or finger and the Energy Forms and Changes: Heat Transfer responds in real time. 5. Change one setting at a time and watch which readout moves, then compare it with this idea: Heat flows from hot objects to cold ones.
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Try the Energy Forms and Changes: Heat Transfer now
Heat or cool an iron block, a brick and water, put them together and watch thermal energy. Free to use.
Try it free