Introduction To Thermal Physics

Effects of Thermal Energy
LearnJa Online School

Learning Objectives
At the end of this unit you should be able to :
1) infer that generally solids, liquids and gases expand

when heated and contract when cooled.
2) describe some effects and application of expansion

and contraction in everyday life riveting, gaps in
bridges, pavement and MRT lines, overhead power and
telephone lines, thermostats.
3) discuss the strange expansion of water.

Molecular Explanation of Thermal Expansion
• When the rod (say an iron rod) is heated, the vibration
of the molecules increases and their displacement, or
amplitude, also increases.
• As the amplitude of vibration increases, the average
distance between molecules of the rod becomes larger
and this accounts for its expansion in length.

Expansion of Solids
Ball and Ring A solid expands when heated,

contracts when its temperature
decreases.
Before heating the ball (continue on next slide)
After heating the ball

Expansion of Solids
Bar and Gauge
The bar will just fit into

the gap when both the
bar and gauge are cold.
Heat the bar with
Bunsen burner.
Does it fit the gap now ?
What happens when it
cools down ?
Expansion of Solids
Bar Breaker
The steel bar is heated with Bunsen burner and then
the portion with screw thread is tighten by a nut.
What happen when
to the cast-iron rod
when the bar cools
down ?
What conclusions
you may make
from this experiment ?
Expansion of various Solids
Different materials expands by different amount

when heated through the same increase in
temperature.
Materials Increase in length (mm) per m

aluminium 0.25
brass 0.19
iron 0.12
steel 0.11
glass 0.09
invar 0.01
Expansion of Liquids
(a) (b) (c)

Fig. (a) shows a glass flask filled with coloured water.
Fig. (b) the water level is seen to fall for first few
seconds when heated. (Why ?)
Fig. (c) later, water level
LearnJa rises quickly. (Why ?)
Online School
Forces of expansion and contraction
From the experiment given by Bar Breaker, we may

conclude that:
Expansion and contraction produced a very large
force.
Compensations for Thermal Expansion
rail track
gap
oval hole for nut and

bolt to slide along
Railways tracks are laid in sections with gaps between
them. (Why ?)
The railways sections are held together by fish-plate
and fastened by bolts and nuts through oval holes.
(Why ?)
Compensations for Thermal Expansion
Rollers and gap given at one end of the bridge is

used to overcome the problem posed by contraction
in cold weather and expansion in hot weather.
Compensations for thermal expansion
Expansion
Joint
Pipelines carry very hot gases (such as steam), therefore

need expansion joint (in ring form) to avoid damages
given by expansion. LearnJa Online School
Overhead power lines and telephone wires
In summer and winter, the overhead power lines and

telephone wires will expands and contracts due to the
changing weather. How do you
LearnJa Onlineovercome
School this problem ?
Concrete Pavement
Concrete blocks for pavements and road surfaces are

laid with gaps or joints between them. This allow it
expands or contracts during hot or cold weather
Bimetallic Strip
A bimetallic strips is
made up of two strips
of different metals.
Brass and iron are

common metals been
used.
Brass expands more

than iron when hot,
and contracts more
LearnJa Online School too.
Bimetallic strip & its application
Fire Alarm If the fire breaks

out, the heat from
the fire will cause
the bimetallic strips
to bend upwards
and complete the
circuit. The alarm
bell then ring.

Electric Iron
Application of Thermal Expansion
Fig. (a) shows the tyre

is too small when cold.
Fig. (b) shows tyre has
bigger diameter than
(a) wheel when heated.
Fig. (c ) shows that tyre
is firmly secured on the
wheel. (Why ?)
(b) (c) Metal

Tyre Fixing
Application of thermal expansion
Hot riveting is a common method to fasten two

metal plates firmly. How ?
(a) (c)
(b)
Hot Riveting
The unusual behaviour of Water
Most liquids expand when heated and contract when

cooled. Water, however is an exception.
Between 00 C to 40 C, water contracts when

temperature increases while water expands when
temperature decreases.
Water has highest density and smallest volume at 4 0C

Graph of volume against temperature of water
(continue on next slide)

Graph of density against temperature of water

During Winter……
Due to the unusual behaviour of water, at 4°C during

Winter time, at, water at the surface of a pond will sinks
(Why ?). Later, even the surface freezes, the fish inside
the pond still alive. ( Why ? )
CSEC PHYSICS
HEAT TRANSFER

Specification
Energy resources and energy transfer
Energy transfer
describe how energy transfer may take place by conduction, convection and
radiation
explain the role of convection in everyday phenomena
explain how insulation is used to reduce energy transfers from buildings and
the human body.

Thermal energy
Thermal or heat energy is the
energy that flows from a hot region
to a cold region by one or more of
the processes of:
CONDUCTION
CONVECTION
and RADIATION

Thermal Conduction
Thermal conduction is how thermal energy
flows through a substance without the
substance itself moving.
Solids and metals are the best conductors, gases

are the worst.
A vacuum does not allow conduction.
A poor conductor is called an insulator.

Thermal Conduction by molecules
Molecules vibrate more when they are heated.

Intermolecular forces allow the molecules to pass
their vibrations from one to another.
The stronger the forces the faster the vibrations are
passed.

Conduction through metals
Metals have an additional method of conduction. They have
electrons that can move from one atom to another. These
electrons can pass energy through the metal very quickly.
Most of the best conductors are metals. However,

diamond, a non-metal, is an excellent conductor
because it has very strong intermolecular bonds.

Keeping warm with clothing
Air is a good insulator.
Clothes keep us warm by trapping air
around our bodies.
The more air layers are trapped the greater
is the insulating effect of the clothing.
Animals keep warm in a similar way by

using fur or feathers to trap insulating
layers of air around their bodies.

Rate of thermal transfer
Heat transfer by conduction can
increased by: 100°
60° copper
glass
copper 20°
1. using a better conducting
substance CC C
2. decreasing the thickness of the
substance
3. increasing the area of the
substance
4. increasing the temperature
difference across the substance

Finding the best conductor
• All the rods have the same
length and cross-sectional area.
• They are all heated equally at
one end with the bunsen burner.
• When the other end of a rod
reaches a certain temperature the
paraffin wax melts and the match
stick falls off.
• A match stick will fall off the
best conductor first.
• This should be the rod made of
copper.

Comparing brass & wood
• The gummed paper singes and burns first on the wooden

side of the rod.
• This is because the brass removes the heat away from the
paper more quickly than the wood.
• Brass is therefore the better conductor.

Water - a poor conductor
• A boiling tube of water is
heated near the top of the
water.
• Water boils at the top.
• The bottom of the tube
remains cool enough to hold.
• This shows that water (and
glass) only conduct heat
relatively slowly.

Air - a good insulator
Air trapped in feathers, cavity wall insulation, loft

insulation, duvets and lagging greatly reduces heat loss
by conduction.

Question 1
Choose appropriate words to fill the gaps below:
Conduction is the main form of ______ transfer in solids. This is
because the molecules are relatively _______ together.
Extra heat energy makes the molecules __________ more. They pass
on their extra vibrational energy to neighbouring ______________.
Metals are __________ conductors of heat energy because they contain
many free __________ which can move through the solid and
____________ energy.
The electrons give up their energy when they ___________ with other
molecules.
WORD
SELECTION:
clos hea goo colli molecul transfemo electron
e t d de es r ve s
Question 1
Choose appropriate words to fill the gaps below:
Conduction is the main form of ______
hea transfer in solids. This is
because the molecules are relatively
t _______
clos together.
Extra heat energy makes the molecules e __________
mo more. They pass
on their extra vibrational energy to neighbouringmolecul
______________.
ve
Metals are __________
goo conductors of heat energyes
because they contain
many free __________ which can move through the solid and
electron
d
____________ energy.
transfes
The
r electrons give up their energy when they ___________ with other
colli
molecules.
de
WORD
SELECTION:
clos hea goo colli molecul transfemo electron
e t d de es r ve s
Question 2
Complete the table below:
substance conductor or use
insulator
copper conduc cooking pan
tor bases
feather insulat keeping birds
s
water or
conduc warm hot
cooling
fibre tor
insulat substances
roof
glass
steel or
conduc insulation
radiators
air tor
insulat clothin
or g

Question 3
Explain why
a) newspaper wrapping keeps hot things hot, e.g. fish and
chips, and cold things cold, e.g. ice cream,
b) fur coats would keep their owners warmer if they were
worn inside out,
c) a string vest keeps a person warm even though it is a
collection of holes bounded by string,
d) a concrete floor feels colder than a carpeted one even
though they are at the same temperature.

Convection
Convection is the transfer of heat through fluids
(liquids and gases) by the upward movement of
warmer, less dense regions of fluid.
Convection does not occur in solids.
A vacuum does not allow convection.

Convection currents
• When molecules are heated they
move more quickly and occupy
more space.
• Hotter fluids are therefore less
dense than colder fluids.
• Hotter fluids rise up to float on top
of colder fluids.
• A convection current is the path
taken by rising hot fluids and
sinking cold fluids.

Convection in water
• Potassium permanganate
crystals are used to dye water
purple.
• When the bottom of the flask of
water is heated warm less dense
water rises.
• The potassium permanganate
dye rises with the warmed
water.
• When the water cools it
becomes denser and sinks down
to the bottom of the flask.

Heating a room by convection

Simple house water heating system
• The boiler heats the water.
• Hot water rises to the top of
the boiler and up to the top of
the storage tank.
• Colder water in the tank falls
to the bottom of the boiler to
be heater.
• A hot water tap draws water
from the top of the storage
tank.
• The cold water supply
replenishes the hot water
drawn off.

Engine water cooling system
• Water heated by the engine rises to the top of the engine.

• This water is pumped into the top of the radiator.
• The fan cools the water in the radiator.
• Cooled water falls from the radiator into the engine.

Thermals
• Heated air provides lift for
a hot air balloon.
• Heated land causes rising
air currents called
thermals.
• Thermals can be used by
gliders to provide lift.
• Many birds also use
thermals for lift.

Sea and land breezes
• During a hot day heated air
rises up from land that is
warmer than the sea.
land
warmer
• A sea breeze consists of
sea cooler air that moves in from
cooler the sea to replace the heated
air.
• At night the sea is often

warmer than the land.
land • Air now flows to the sea. This
cooler
sea
is called a land breeze.
warmer

Simple mine ventilation
hot fresh
air air
risin
g
The fire causes hot air to rise up the shaft above it.
Cooler, fresher air is drawn down the other shaft..

Question 1
Choose appropriate words to fill in the gaps below:
Convection is a method of heat transfer that only occurs in
________ (liquids and ________).
When part of a fluid is heated the ___________ in that region
move more ______ and take up more space. The heated fluid
expands and becomes less _______ than the surrounding
cooler fluid. The heated fluid _______ on top of the cooler
fluid.
The upward path of the heated fluid is called a
____________current.
WORD
gase convectiSELECTION:
dens molecul rise fluid quick
s on e LearnJa Online
es School s s ly
Question 1
Convection is a method of heat transfer that only occurs in
________
fluid (liquids and ________).
gase
s
When s
part of a fluid is heated the ___________
molecul in that region
move more ______
quick and take up more esspace. The heated fluid
expands andlybecomes less _______
dens than the surrounding
cooler fluid. The heated fluide _______
rise on top of the cooler
fluid. s
The upward path of the heated fluid is called a
____________current.
convecti
on
WORD
gase convectiSELECTION:
dens molecul rise fluid quick
s on e LearnJa Online
es School s s ly
Question 2
Explain why
a) a hot drink will cool more slowly if a lid is put on the
top of the drink,
b) clouds are often formed at the top of thermals,
c) top loading freezers are more efficient than those with
side doors,
d) hot water radiators are best placed\under a window.

Thermal Radiation
Thermal radiation is the transfer of energy by infra-
red (IR) waves.
Radiation is the only type of heat transfer that can travel

through a vacuum through which it travels at the speed of
light (300 000 km/s or 186 000 miles per second).
Gases tend to allow radiation through better than liquids,

liquids better than solids.

Detecting thermal radiation
• We can feel thermal radiation with our skin.
• Special cameras can be used to take infra-red pictures.

Thermal radiation & temperature
All objects above absolute zero (-273 °C) give off
thermal radiation.
The hotter an object the more radiation it gives off.

Surface and emission
Dark surfaces emit
radiation better than
bright surfaces.
Rough surfaces emit

radiation better than
polished surfaces.

Absorption & Reflection
Dark surfaces absorb
radiation best.
Bright surfaces reflect
radiation best.
Rough surfaces absorb

radiation best.
Polished surfaces reflect
radiation best.

Silvered surfaces
A metal kettle,
a firefighter
and a
marathon
runner make
use of silvered
surfaces.

Question 1
Thermal radiation, also known as __________ radiation, is
how heat travels by _____________ waves.
Radiation travels equally in all ________and most quickly
through a __________ where its speed is ___________ km/s.
All objects above absolute zero ( ________ oC ) give off
thermal radiation.
Hot, _______ and rough surfaces emit radiation best.
Bright and ___________surfaces reflect radiation best.
WORD
electromag vacuu SELECTION:
- heatdirectio 300 darksmooth
netic m 273LearnJa Online
nsSchool 000
Question 1
Thermal radiation, also known as __________
heat radiation, is
how heat travels by _____________
electromag waves.
netic
Radiation travels equally in all ________and most quickly
directio
through a __________
vacuu where itsns speed is ___________
300 km/s.
m absolute zero ( ________ o000
All objects above C ) give off
-
thermal radiation.
273
Hot, _______ and rough surfaces emit radiation best.
dark
Bright and ___________surfaces reflect radiation best.
smooth
WORD
electromag vacuu SELECTION:
- heatdirectio 300 darksmooth
netic m 273LearnJa Online
nsSchool 000
Question 2
Explain why
a) heat from the Sun can only
reach us by thermal radiation,
b) in hot countries houses are
often painted white,
c) car radiators are black,
d) solar cells are black.

Heat losses from a house

How heat losses are reduced
location heat saving device(s)
doors draught excluders

windows double glazing / curtains
roof loft insulation
floors carpets
walls cavity wall insulation

Heating a room using a water radiator
Hot water heats the metal radiator

by conduction.
The outer metal surface heats air
in contact by conduction and
radiation.
Hot air circulates a room by
convection.

Reducing heat transfer
using a vacuum flask
CONDUCTION
– reduced by the vacuum,
stopper, glass, cork and air
spaces.
CONVECTION
– reduced by the vacuum,
stopper and the trapped air
spaces.
RADIATION
– reduced by the silvered
glass walls.

Question 1
Choose appropriate words to fill in the gaps in below:
_________ is the form of energy that ________ from a hot
place to a cold one because of the __________ difference
between these two places.
Heat moves by conduction, ____________ and radiation.
_________ energy is an alternative name for heat energy.
WORD
SELECTION:
thermaltemperatu travelshea convecti
re t on

Question 1
Choose appropriate words to fill in the gaps in below:
_________
hea is the form of energy that ________
travels from a hot
place
t to a cold one because of the __________
temperatu difference
between these two places. re
Heat moves by conduction, ____________
convecti and radiation.
_________ on name for heat energy.
thermal energy is an alternative
WORD
SELECTION:
thermaltemperatu travelshea convecti
re t on

Question 2
Write down the ways in which a vacuum flask reduces heat transfer
part of flask processes reduced (eg

‘conduction’)
outer cap /
cup
plastic
shinycap
mirror
surfaces
vacuu
m
spong
e air
plastic
case
Question 2
Write down the ways in which a vacuum flask reduces heat transfer
part of flask processes reduced (eg

‘conduction’)
conduction & convection

outer cap /
cup
plastic convection & conduction
shinycap
mirror radiati
surfaces on & convection
conduction
vacuu
m
spong conducti
e air on
conducti
plastic on
conducti
case on

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Effects of Thermal Energy

LearnJa Online School

1) infer that generally solids, liquids and gases expand

2) describe some effects and application of expansion

3) discuss the strange expansion of water.

LearnJa Online School

LearnJa Online School

Ball and Ring A solid expands when heated,

Before heating the ball (continue on next slide)

After heating the ball

The bar will just fit into

Different materials expands by different amount

Materials Increase in length (mm) per m

(a) (b) (c)

From the experiment given by Bar Breaker, we may

oval hole for nut and

Rollers and gap given at one end of the bridge is

Pipelines carry very hot gases (such as steam), therefore

Overhead power lines and telephone wires

In summer and winter, the overhead power lines and

Concrete blocks for pavements and road surfaces are

Brass and iron are

Brass expands more

Fire Alarm If the fire breaks

LearnJa Online School

Fig. (a) shows the tyre

(b) (c) Metal

Hot riveting is a common method to fasten two

Most liquids expand when heated and contract when

Between 00 C to 40 C, water contracts when

Water has highest density and smallest volume at 4 0C

LearnJa Online School

(continue on next slide)

LearnJa Online School

LearnJa Online School

Due to the unusual behaviour of water, at 4°C during

LearnJa Online School

LearnJa Online School

LearnJa Online School

Solids and metals are the best conductors, gases

A vacuum does not allow conduction.

A poor conductor is called an insulator.

LearnJa Online School

Molecules vibrate more when they are heated.

LearnJa Online School

Most of the best conductors are metals. However,

LearnJa Online School

Animals keep warm in a similar way by

LearnJa Online School

LearnJa Online School

LearnJa Online School

• The gummed paper singes and burns first on the wooden

LearnJa Online School

LearnJa Online School

Air trapped in feathers, cavity wall insulation, loft

LearnJa Online School

LearnJa Online School