Results: Investigating heat loss due to radiation using DrDAQ

Temperature due to radiation

A results graph should be obtained similar to the one above.

Answers to questions

  1. The dull black flask (external 2) lost heat more quickly than the silver flask (external 1)
  2. Dull black surfaces lose energy more quickly as they are better radiators.
  3. All hot objects lose energy by radiation. Radiation is an electromagnetic wave. Radiation can travel through a vacuum: this is how the energy from the sun reaches the earth. Other types of energy transfer are conduction and convection.

Credits, comments and further info

This experiment was written by staff at Sawtry college.