Making YOU the Scientist: Heat Transfer and Convection Lab

This is a great lab activity for introducing the important topics of heat transfer and convection. It can also be used as a starting point for talking about the other two types of heat transfer: conduction and radiation.

This lab investigates heat transfer through convection and molecular motion by adding food coloring to three glasses that contain water at different temperatures. By observing the rate at which the food coloring diffuses through the water you can infer the relative particle motion and therefore the temperature of the water in each of the glasses.

You can do this lab in almost any setting: in the classroom, during home schooling, as an online learning demonstration or just a fun thing to do with the kids on the weekend. Kids love working with water and food coloring and the results of the experiment can be seen in just a few minutes. My middle school students always enjoy this activity. You probably have everything you need at school or around the house: a few glasses, water and some food coloring.

A complete write up for this lab activity including full a page of notes for convection, conduction. and radiation is available from our Teachers Pay Teacher store.

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