Thermal Energy and You

By Ciara Eldridge Block 4

What it Thermal Energy?

• The dictionary definition of Thermal Energy would be considered “Total Kinetic Energy of the System.”

Wait?! What’s Kinetic Energy?

• Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. How much you have depends on the mass and speed of a substance. Thermal Energy refers to the Kinetic Energy of the microscopic particles(molecules). The Higher the temperature the faster the particles.

You mentioned temperature, like how hot something is, right….?

• Not exactly. Temperature is basically the average kinetic energy a substance obtains.• No, this is not considered “how hot.”

Heat is in this context a verb and is the act of transferring Thermal Energy.

Are there different types of heat transfer??

• Yes only 3, Conduction, Convection, and Radiation.

Conduction??• This is the transfer of thermal Energy by direct contact. ( or the

transfer of energy through matter from particle to particle).• Examples: Touching a stove and being burned• -Ice cooling down your hand• -Boiling water by thrusting a red• -hot piece of iron into it• Hugging another and getting heated and hot after a while.

Convection??• Convection is the transfer of thermal energy from the movement of

molecules.• Examples: Warm, rising air (thermals) due to heat rising from the earth.

As the warm air rises, cool air comes in from the sides to take its place. This sets up a circulating flow of air.Also, watch a glass beaker of boiling water over a not-too-high Bunsen flame, or see a pan on the stove. Note the water is rising and falling in a circular manner.

Radiation??• Radiation is the transfer of heat from waves(Electromagnetic ).• Examples: A microwave. It sends out microwaves which radiate the water

molecules in the object in the microwave and excite them and that's why the object will get hot.

• visible light• infrared or ultraviolet

So…How Do I Know How Much Thermal Energy I Have?

• There is the total thermal energy equation of course.

• (Tf-Ti)t . (mass)(Cp)• Tf-Ti (Temp. Final – Temp. Initial)is the change

in temperature in your data• T is temperature• Cp is the Specific heat Capacity• “.” Is multiply

The Process of Losing and Gaining

• There are two changes to thermal energy: Endothermic change and an Exothermic change.

Endothermic Change

• This is a change in which energy is aborbed. • The substance takes in energy and the molecules

move faster as result.• Examples: Ice cream gains energy and therefore

thermal energy and proceeds to melt.

Exothermic Change

• This is a change in which energy is released.• The substance loses energy and the particles

move slower as a result.• Example: The Atomic bomb explodes and

releases energy.

END!

• YOU NOW KNOW ALL THE BASICS OF THERMAL ENERGY~~~~~~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!