Heat Thermal Energy

Heat Energy Most of us use the word ‘heat’ to mean something that feels warm, but science defines heat as the flow of energy from a warm object to a cooler object. Actually, heat energy is all around us – in volcanoes, in icebergs and in your body. All matter contains heat energy. Heat energy will flow from one substance to another until the two substances have the same temperature.

Heat Energy Heat energy is the result of the movement of tiny particles called atoms, molecules or ions in solids, liquids and gases. Heat energy can be transferred from one object to another, and the transfer or flow due to the difference in temperature between the two objects is called heat.

For example, an ice cube has heat energy and so does a glass of lemonade. If you put the ice in the lemonade, the lemonade (which is warmer) will transfer some of its heat energy to the ice. In other words, it will heat up the ice. Eventually, the ice will melt and the lemonade and water from the ice will be the same temperature. This is known as reaching a state of thermal equilibrium.

Moving Particles Matter is all around you. It is everything in the universe – anything that has both mass and volume and takes up space is matter. Matter exists in different physical forms – solids, liquids and gases. These tiny particles are always in motion – either bumping into each other or vibrating back and forth. It is the motion of particles that creates a form of energy called heat (or thermal) energy that is present in all matter.

The Particles The particles in solids are tightly packed and can only vibrate. The particles in liquids also vibrate but are able to move around by rolling over each other and sliding around. In gases, the particles move freely with rapid, random motion.

Phase Change As you add more energy in the form of heat the matter changes from a solid to a liquid to a gas. What is this called? We call this melting and evaporation.

Convection spreads heat in a circular motion Convection spreads heat in a circular motion. Conduction transfers heat through solid materials. Radiation transfers heat in electromagnetic waves. Heat Transfer All heat energy, including heat generated by fire, is transferred in 3 different ways: Convection, Conduction and Radiation

Convection Convection transfers heat energy through the air (and liquids). -As the air heats up, the particles move further apart and become less dense, which causes the air to rise. -Cooler air below moves in and heats up, creating a circular motion. The warm air circles and heats the room. Convection spreads heat in a circular motion.

Conduction Conduction transfers heat energy through one substance to another when they are in direct contact. -The moving molecules of a warm material can increase the energy of the molecules in a cooler material. -Since particles are closer together, solids conduct heat better than liquids or gases. Conduction transfers heat through solid materials

Radiation Radiation is the heat that we feel coming from a hot object. -It warms the air using heat waves (infrared waves) that radiate out from the hot object in all directions until it is absorbed by other objects. -Transfer of heat by radiation travels at the speed of light and goes great distances. Radiation transfers heat in electromagnetic waves. Remember infrared radiation from waves? Song: Convection-Conduction-Radiation

How does a fire use all three ways to transfer heat? With a log fire, the air in the room above the fire is heated and rises to create convection currents. -The heat felt directly from the fire is transmitted to us through radiation. -Conduction helps to keep a fire going by transferring heat energy directly from the wood to neighboring wood in the fire.

An Effect of Heat – Expansion When gases, liquids and solids are heated, they expand. The expansion of the gases and liquids is because the particles are moving around very fast when they are heated and are able to move further apart so they take up more room. As they cool, they contract or get smaller. If the gas or liquid is heated in a closed container, the particles collide with the sides of the container, and this causes pressure. The greater the number of collisions, the greater the pressure. Helium balloon in cold weather

An Effect of Heat – Expansion Why will the windows of a house on fire explode? Or a glass container of water left in a car in the winter? Or why do pipes burst in the winter? Or potholes form in the roads? This is because the air in the house has been heated and the excited molecules are moving at high speed around the room. They are pushing against the walls, ceiling, floor and windows. Because the windows are the weakest part of the house structure, they break and burst open, releasing the increased pressure.

An Effect of Heat – Expansion When water freezes the molecules line up into crystals. They take up more space than liquid and the water actually expands. When it melts the water has even more pressure.