If you place a spoon in a steaming bowl of soap, some of the heat energy from the hot soap will move to the spoon. The spoon is solid. In a solid, the particles are packed so closely that they can vibrate or move in place. Heat energy causes the particles to vibrate faster. As one particle vibrates, it bumps into the next particle and this particle bumps into the next and so on until all particles are hot. This movement of heat energy from particle to particle of the material is called conduction. Heat transfer by conduction takes place in solid materials because the particles in solids are closely packed together. Some solid materials allow heat to pass through easily. These materials are called conductors. Materials used for cooking are mostly made of aluminum, steel, copper or brass. These materials are good conductors. Look at the handles of your cooking pans. They are made of rubber, plastic or wood. These materials do not allow heat to pass through. Such materials are called insulators.

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The particles of liquids and gases are not packed closely as in solids. Consider placing a spiral coil cupboard place on top of a candle. Water and air expand when heated. When they expand, they become less dense or lighter in volume, so they rise. Cooler water or air at the top goes down. A current is created as the liquid or gas molecules move up then down. This is called convection current. Convection current carries heat from one place to another. Heat moves through liquids and gases by convection.

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The sun is very hot. Its particles give off much radiant energy. Radiant energy travels through space in all directions. The sun’s energy reaches the Earth by radiation. Radiation does not depend on the movement of molecules or atoms. So, the sun’s energy can travel across a vacuum or empty space. Some surfaces absorb radiated heat. This is the reason we use mostly black or dark-colored umbrellas when we walk in sunlight. Surfaces that are smooth and shiny hardly absorb radiated heat. They reflect light.

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Simple tips in keeping safe from hot objects and flammable materials. Hot objects can cause harm and injury to people. Your fingers might get burned if you touch a hot pan. Boiling water can scald not only your arms but other parts of your body as well. Flammable materials can start a fire. A fire can destroy properly and lives. We should learn to practice safety measures to avoid injury and accidents caused by these materials. These simple tips includes, the use of potholders when handling hot pots and pans, use tongs to pick up burning coal from stove, keep matches away from children, and keep the container of cooking gas tightly closed to avoid a leak.

Fire that destroys houses and people’s lives is often due to carelessness. Therefore, we should all practice care to prevent fire. Here are some simple ways we can prevent fire.

1. Store combustible materials in a well-ventilated place. This is to prevent build-up of heat that can result in spontaneous combustion.
2. Have the electrical wiring of your home inspected by an electrical engineer or electrician every year or so.
3. Have faulty wiring and defective electrical appliances repaired or replaced before they can do harm.
4. Turn off all electrical appliances when not in use.
5. Examine cooking gas containers regularly for leaks.
6. When camping in forests, do not throw lighted matches or leave bits of burning wood. A tiny spark can start a forest fire.

Remember to remind everybody in your house incase they forget.