Central heating

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/central-heating

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the ancient precursor?Roman hypocaust system provided underfloor heating
2. What is the primary distribution methods?Forced air via ducts or hydronic (water/steam) via pipes
3. How did the Romans keep their homes warm?The Romans used a hypocaust, a special underfloor heating system. A furnace made hot air that flowed under the floors and inside walls, warming the rooms evenly.
4. What are the two main ways modern central heating works?Modern systems mainly use either forced air or hydronic methods. Forced air heats air with a furnace or heat pump and blows it through ducts, while hydronic heats water that flows through pipes to radiators or floor panels.

Hydronic System: A heating system that circulates hot water or steam through pipes.
Heat Pump: A device that transfers thermal energy from a source to a destination.
Building Envelope: The physical barrier between the conditioned interior and unconditioned exterior of a building.