UNIT 15: HEAT

Lesson 1: Defining Heat

SCIENCE 7 | UNIT 15: HEAT | Lesson 1: Defining Heat POP QUIZ
 OBJECTIVES

1. distinguish heat and temperature;

and
2. convert temperature readings
from one scale to another.

SCIENCE 7 | UNIT 15: HEAT | Lesson 1: Defining Heat POP QUIZ

 INTRODUCTION
When you are sick and experiencing a high fever, you
feel like your body is being heated. Then to measure
your approximate body temperature, you will have to
use a thermometer. What is the difference between
heat and temperature? Is it appropriate to say that
your body can contain heat?

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SCIENCE 7 | UNIT 15: HEAT | Lesson 1: Defining Heat POP QUIZ
 TEMPERATURE
All matter is composed of atoms and molecules that
constantly move and vibrate. Solids are composed of
closely packed particles. Since these particles have
limited space to move, they simply vibrate in their own
positions. An example of a solid is a wooden block.
Liquids have more loosely packed particles than solids.

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 TEMPERATURE
The arrangement of liquids enables the particles to
move within the liquid but they are still close enough
to maintain their volume. Water is an example of a
liquid. Gases can expand indefinitely when placed in a
wide space. The particles are free to move due to the
large spaces between each particle.

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 TEMPERATURE
Since all matter is composed of particles in
constant motion or vibration, these particles also
possess kinetic energy. The measure of the
average kinetic energy of the molecules in a
material is called temperature. Temperature is
also expressed in a specific unit or degree scale.

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 TEMPERATURE
In general, objects with high temperatures contain
particles with large average kinetic energy.
Particles within an object of higher temperature
are moving faster compared to an object with a
lower temperature.

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 TEMPERATURE

SCIENCE 7 | UNIT 15: HEAT | Lesson 1: Defining Heat POP QUIZ

 TEMPERATURE
Senses are commonly used in describing the
hotness or coldness of an object. While the use of
senses gives a qualitative description, it is not
always reliable especially in instances where an
exact value for temperature is needed.

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 TEMPERATURE

SCIENCE 7 | UNIT 15: HEAT | Lesson 1: Defining Heat POP QUIZ

 TEMPERATURE SCALES
• A thermometer is a device used to measure the
temperature of an object.
• The most common thermometer observed today in the
laboratory is the alcohol-in-glass thermometer.
• Another type of thermometer is the mercury-in-glass
thermometer.

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 TEMPERATURE SCALES

SCIENCE 7 | UNIT 15: HEAT | Lesson 1: Defining Heat POP QUIZ

 TEMPERATURE SCALES
• The temperature measured by a thermometer is
always expressed using a specific scale. There
are two common temperature scales used in
different types of thermometers. These are the
Celsius scale and the Fahrenheit scale.

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 CELSIUS TEMPERATURE SCALE
• The Celsius scale is named after the Swedish astronomer
Anders Celsius who first suggested it.
• It is referred to as the centigrade scale or centigrade
thermometer.
• In this scale, there are 100 divisions separating the normal freezing point and
the normal boiling point of water. Thus, the name centigrade.
• . Measurements using the Celsius scale use the unit degree
Celsius (°C).

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 FAHRENHEIT TEMPERATURE SCALE
• The Fahrenheit temperature scale is commonly used in
English-speaking countries such as the United States.
• It was named after the German physicist Gabriel Daniel
Fahrenheit.
• In this scale, there are 180 divisions between the normal freezing and normal boiling point
of water. The freezing point of water on the Fahrenheit scale is 32 °F while its boiling
point is 212 °F.
• Temperature measurement in this scale has a unit of degree
Fahrenheit (°F).

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 CONVERSION OF UNITS
Temperatures in Celsius can be converted to its
equivalent in Fahrenheit using the equation below.

Where is the temperature in Fahrenheit

while is the temperature in the Celsius scale.

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 CONVERSION OF UNITS
In contrast, temperatures in the Fahrenheit scale can
also be converted in terms of the Celsius scale using
this equation:

Where is the temperature in Fahrenheit

while is the temperature in the Celsius scale.

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 KELVIN TEMPERATURE SCALE
Unlike the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales which are based on
the normal freezing and boiling points of water, the Kelvin
does not adapt these two points. It is calibrated rather based
on the energy itself.

It still has two different points: the absolute zero and triple
point.

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 KELVIN TEMPERATURE SCALE
At absolute zero (0 Kelvin), the substance has no
average kinetic energy to give up or to transfer to
another substance. It is also referred to as the
lowest possible temperature that can occur in
nature.

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 KELVIN TEMPERATURE SCALE
The triple point of water is a single temperature
where ice, water, and water vapor can all coexist.
The triple point of water is equivalent to 273.15
Kelvin (273.15 K).

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 KELVIN TEMPERATURE SCALE
There is also a relationship between the Celsius and Kelvin
temperature scales, shown by the equations below:

where is the temperature in the Celsius scale

and is the temperature in the Kelvin scale.

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SCIENCE 7 | UNIT 15: HEAT | Lesson 1: Defining Heat POP QUIZ
 Measuring Heat and Temperature
A thermometer measures its own temperature. To fully explain this,
the terms thermal contact and thermal equilibrium should be
understood first.
• Thermal contact occurs when two objects can exchange thermal
energy between them.
• Thermal equilibrium takes place when two objects reach the same
temperature, and there is no transfer of thermal energy anymore.

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 Measuring Heat and Temperature
Heat is the transfer of thermal energy from a hot object to a
cold object.
Heat is only present when there is a temperature difference
between objects.
Once there is no temperature difference, the two objects
already reach thermal equilibrium. Therefore, heat transfer
stops.

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 Measuring Heat and Temperature
It is the reason why heat is also referred to as “energy in
transit”. Heat also cannot be contained by an object or any
matter. It is the thermal energy that the object contains and
not heat.

Notice also that the natural direction of heat is always from

an object with a higher temperature to an object with a lower
temperature.
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SCIENCE 7 | UNIT 15: HEAT | Lesson 1: Defining Heat POP QUIZ
 Measuring Heat and Temperature
When a thermometer is used to measure temperature, it
is in thermal contact with an object that it is measuring.
Heat is transferred until both achieve thermal
equilibrium.

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SCIENCE 7 | UNIT 15: HEAT | Lesson 1: Defining Heat POP QUIZ
 Heat
In the past, scientists treat heat as a separate quantity from energy which
is why they initially used different units.
• The first one is calorie (cal) which is defined as the energy needed to
raise the temperature of 1 g of water by 1 Celsius degree.
• Another unit used, although less common, is the British thermal unit
(Btu or BTU).
• After a few years, several scientists agreed that since heat is the transfer
of thermal energy, its unit should be joule (J).
• Today, it is set that one calorie is equivalent to 4.186 J.

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SCIENCE 7 | UNIT 15: HEAT | Lesson 1: Defining Heat POP QUIZ
 REMEMBER THIS…
• Temperature is the degree of hotness or coldness
measured on a definite scale. It is measured in three
commonly known scales: Celsius scale, Fahrenheit
scale, and the Kelvin scale.

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 REMEMBER THIS…
• In converting degree Fahrenheit to degree Celsius, use the
formula below.

SCIENCE 7 | UNIT 15: HEAT | Lesson 1: Defining Heat POP QUIZ

 REMEMBER THIS…
• In converting degree Celsius to degree Fahrenheit, use the
formula below.

SCIENCE 7 | UNIT 15: HEAT | Lesson 1: Defining Heat POP QUIZ

 REMEMBER THIS…
• In converting Kelvin to Celsius (or vice versa), use the
formula below.

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 REMEMBER THIS…
•Heat is the energy in transit between objects
that are in thermal contact. That is, they are
in a condition wherein they can transfer
energy. Heat is measured in joules (J), and
calories (cal).

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