Thermal Energy

Thermal energy is the energy that comes from heat when

there is a rise in temperature. For this reason, it can also be
called heat energy. All matter is made of tiny particles called
molecules. When a substance heats up, the rise in temperature
makes these tiny molecules move faster and bump into each
other. Thermal energy is the energy that comes from this
heated up substance.
There are lots of ways that you can feel thermal
energy. The heat from the sun is thermal energy. So is the
warmth you feel when you pick up a warm cup of hot cocoa or
the heat from a fire in the winter.

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 Thermal Energy
There are three types of thermal energy: convection,
conduction, and radiation. Convection is when thermal energy flows
through liquids and gases when most of the matter is moving.
Heated molecules move from one place to another and take most
of the heat with them. Boiling water in a pot is an example of
convection because the water is constantly moving and spreading
the heat. Convection ovens also move hot air around the inside of
an oven to cook food evenly.
Conduction is the flow of energy through touch. When solids
of two different temperatures touch, the molecules ‘bump’ into
each other and the thermal energy transfers from one solid to
another. When you place a pot on a hot element on the oven, the
thermal energy heats the pot through conduction. It is also
conduction when your cool hand touches a warm mug. The thermal
energy from the mug transfers into your hand and warms it up.
Radiation is the flow of energy
through open space. There does not
need to be any contact between the
heat source and the object that
needs to be heated. Radiation leaves
an object in the form of waves. The
sun heats the earth by radiation.
Warming cold hands by a fire is
warming them by radiation because
the thermal energy is travelling
through open space to your hands.

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 Reading Response: Thermal Energy
What is thermal energy?
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Describe some situations where you might feel thermal energy.

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Describe each type of thermal energy:

conduction convection radiation

Read the examples below. In the space beside each example, write whether it
is an example of convection, conduction, or radiation.

You warm your hands on a cup of hot chocolate.

A student sits by the heater on a cold day.

A cupcake bakes in the oven.

The sun heats the earth.

Laying on a hot sidewalk in summer

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