This key facts covers Reducing Heat Loss in Buildings within Heat Transfer for GCSE Physics. Revise Heat Transfer in Energy for GCSE Physics with 14 exam-style questions and 11 flashcards. Use this page as part of a wider topic revision path rather than treating it as an isolated fact. It is section 9 of 17 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
🏠 Reducing Heat Loss in Buildings
| Method | How it works | What it reduces |
|---|---|---|
| Loft insulation | Fibreglass/wool traps air pockets | Conduction & convection through roof |
| Cavity wall insulation | Foam/wool fills gap in walls | Conduction & convection through walls |
| Double glazing | Two panes with air/argon gap | Conduction through windows |
| Draught excluders | Seals gaps around doors/windows | Convection (stops hot air escaping) |
| Reflective foil | Shiny surface behind radiators | Radiation (reflects heat into room) |
| Thick curtains | Traps air layer at window | Conduction & convection |
💡 Key principle: Trapped air is an excellent insulator because it's a poor conductor AND can't form large convection currents when trapped in small pockets.
Practice questions for Heat Transfer
Which method of thermal energy transfer occurs mainly in solids?
Explain how a convection current forms when the base of a fluid is heated.
Quick recall flashcards
Examples
wood, plastic, glass, air, wool
Fluid is heated
particles gain kinetic energy → move faster → spread out