Heat Transfer and Solar Energy — Syllabus
NIOS · Class 12 · Physics
What Heat Transfer and Solar Energy covers in NIOS Class 12 Physics: 3 topics, for the 2026-27 session. Part of the NIOS Class 12 Physics syllabus.
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Topics in Heat Transfer and Solar Energy
Processes of Heat Transfer
- There are THREE modes of heat transfer: Conduction, Convection, and Radiation.
- CONDUCTION: Heat transfer through molecular vibrations without actual movement of molecules. Most effective in solids (especially metals).
- CONVECTION: Heat transfer by actual bodily movement of fluid molecules. Occurs in liquids and gases.
Radiation Laws
- All bodies above 0 K emit electromagnetic radiation continuously. The nature of this radiation depends on temperature.
- At ~525°C, a heated wire starts glowing with dull red light; colour changes to orange, yellow, and finally white as temperature increases.
- Higher temperature → peak emission at shorter wavelengths (shift towards visible/UV from infrared).
Solar Energy, Greenhouse Effect and Newton's Law of Cooling
- SOLAR CONSTANT: The energy received per unit area per second on Earth from the Sun = 1.36 × 10³ Wm⁻² (= 1360 Wm⁻²).
- Total solar energy received by Earth per second: Q = 2πRₑ²C ≈ 3.5 × 10¹⁷ W (only illuminated half is counted).
- Solar constant for another planet at orbital distance R' from Sun: E'/E = (R/R')² where R = Earth's orbital radius.
Key Concepts
Central concept: Heat Transfer and Solar Energy
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