Transfer of thermal energy

Transfer of thermal energy and its causes

Heat transfer is the movement of heat from one place to another. When an object is at a different temperature from its surroundings, heat transfer occurs so that the body and the surroundings reach the same temperature at thermal equilibrium. Such spontaneous heat transfer always occurs from a region of high temperature to another region of lower temperature



Examples:

A cup of coffee will cool down because it is giving out heat energy into the surroundings

A cold drinks can (taken out of the fridge) will warm up because it is taking in heat energy from the surroundings