Heat in Action!!!
Creating In-Class Demonstrations for ME 364
Problem statement
Have you ever gotten confused on theoretical questions because you couldn’t understand how it works in the real world? ME 364 (Elementary Heat Transfer) is a very theoretical class, with a lot of the concepts that are not easy to imagine, such as how radiation transmits heat and imagining how a boundary layer can affect the transfer of energy. However, that doesn’t necessarily have to be the case. We intend to provide physical models to help students visualize heat transfer actually happening, instead of just reading about it on paper. One study by Rochester Institute of Technology biochemistry and molecular biology professors saw a roughly 15% increase in accuracy with questions related to the concept shown by the physical model (1). We intend to create physical models for the three modes of heat transfer (conduction, convection, and radiation) that can help students gain a concrete understanding of foundational heat transfer topics to help them excel in the class. 1. Newman, D. L., Stefkovich, M., Clasen, C., Franzen, M. A., & Wright, L. K. (2018). Physical models can provide superior learning opportunities beyond the benefits of active engagements. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education, 46(5), 435-444. https://doi.org/10.1002/bmb.21159
