Thermal Energy &

Heat
 Temperature

 Temperature
 measure of the
average KE
(motion) of the
particles
 Going from Celsius to
Fahrenheit
o
F = 9/5 (oC) + 32

Convert 37 oC to oF.
o
F = 9/5oC + 32
o
F = 9/5(37oC) + 32
= 66.6 + 32
= 98.6oF
Going from Fahrenheit to
Celsius
o
C = 5/9 (oF – 32)

Convert 68oF to oC
o
C = 5/9(oF – 32)
o
C = 5/9(68 – 32)
= 5/9(36)
= 20 oC
 Thermal Energy
 Thermal Energy
 the total energy of the particles in
a material (KE + PE)
 KE - movement of particles
 PE - forces within or between particles due to position

 depends on temperature, mass,

and type of substance
 Thermal Energy
 Which beaker of water has more
thermal energy?
 B - same temperature, more mass

80ºC 80ºC

A B
400 mL

200 mL
 Heat Transfer
 Heat
 thermal energy that flows from
a warmer material to a cooler
material
 Heat is...
 measured in joules (J)
 a transfer of energy
 Heat Transfer
 Why does A feel hot and B feel cold?
 Heat flows from A to your hand = hot.
 Heat flows from your hand to B = cold.

80ºC 10ºC

A B
 Heat Transfer
 Heat is always
transferred from hot to
cold.
 Insulators slow the
transfer of heat due to
air pockets.
 Conductors easily
allow the transfer of
heat, like metals.
 Heat is transferred by
radiation, conduction,
and convection.
 Radiation
 Transfer of heat
through
electromagnetic
radiation (light from
stars or light bulbs).
 Transferred in all
directions.
 No contact required!
 Dark or dull objects
absorb more than
light or shiny objects
do.
How does heat get from
one place to another?
1. Radiation
2. Conduction
3. Convection
 Conduction
 Heat is transferred
due to objects
touching each other
or through collisions.
 Occurs best in solids.
 Heat continues to be
transferred until both
objects reach the
same temperature,
called a thermal
equilibrium.
 Heat Transfer
 Insulators slow the
transfer of heat
due to air pockets.

 Conductors easily
allow the transfer
of heat, like
metals.
 Skin at 37 C Skin at 37 C

Aluminum at 25 C Compressed foam at 25 C

Feels “cold” Feels “warm”

 Ice at 0 C Ice at 0 C

Aluminum at 25 C Compressed foam at 25 C

 Question???
 Nick bought a bowl of soup in
Styrofoam cup. He noticed that the
metal spoon handle sticking out of
the soup became too hot to touch,
but he could hold the cup in his
hand comfortably. Explain why the
Styrofoam cup and spoon did not
feel the same.
 How did you do?
 You should CORRECTLY use the following
concepts: Molecules, Heat/Energy Transfer,
Conductor, Insulator

 The warmer molecules in the soup transfer

heat energy to the spoon. The spoon is
made of metal, a conductor, which allows
the heat to move easily to your hand. The
Styrofoam is an insulator, so the heat does
not transfer to your hand easily.
Radiation vs. Conduction
1. Energy that 1. Energy that
travels as travels through
waves through contact of things
space between
things 2. Contact is
necessary
2. Direct contact
not necessary
3. From faster
3. From the Sun
moving
and light molecules
4. Can travel
 Conduction in aluminum

Metal bar
Hot Water
 Conduction in aluminum

Metal bar
Hot Water
 Conduction in steel

Metal bar
Hot Water
 Conduction
 Conduction is when energy transfers
from one place to another by direct
contact

 Differential conduction is when

energy transfers at different rates
depending upon the material it is
passing through
Steel

Aluminum

Styrofoam

Marble

Wood
 Conduction in styrofoam

Styrofoam Block
Hot Water
Differential conduction can
explain these two mysteries
about the “Amazing Melting
Ice Blocks”
 1. Why does one block feel cold and
one feel warm when they are the same
temperature?

 2. Why does the block that feels cold

so much better at melting the ice than
the “warm” block?
 Convection
 Transfer of heat
through a liquid or
gas through
moving currents,
called convection
currents.
 The cause of wind
and weather.
 The movement of a substance that
is caused by differences in
temperature and density.
 EXAMPLES: wind
boiling water
 NATURE WANTS

EVERYTHING TO BALANCE ! !
Convection