Thermal Energy Thermal Energy = Potential + Kinetic Energy (sum) in an object’s particles. Heat – Thermal energy moving from a warm object to a cold object. For instance, ice cools a drink because thermal energy flows from the drink to the ice. Temperature – measures the kinetic energy of an object’s particles.

The Three C’s Convection –Transfer of thermal energy by the movement of particles from one part of a material to another. Boiling water or hot air moving in a room. A convection current is the cyclical up and down movement of fluids. Conduction – The transfer of thermal energy between materials because of the collisions between the particles. E.g., a pan getting hot on a stove. Radiation – The transfer of thermal energy between materials by electromagnetic waves. The sun warming the Earth.

Getting Bigger or Smaller Thermal Expansion is an increase a material’s volume when its temperature increases. Thermal Contraction is a decrease in a material’s volume when its temperature is decreased. For example, when a balloon shrinks in the cold air. Real life application – Some materials contract more than others due to their different specific heat. So if a thermostat has two metals (bimetallic coil) it will curl or straighten out depending on the change in temperature. This cause the furnace/AC to turn on or off.

Specific Heat The amount of thermal energy required to raise the temperature of 1 Kg of material 1 degree Celsius. Water has a high specific heat, which means it heats up and cools down slowly. This helps the human body, which is mainly water, maintain an even, safe temperature. An insulator keeps thermal energy from flowing very fast. A conductor allows thermal energy to flow very quickly. So a cooler or thermos is usually made of a an insulator such as foam to help keep hot things hot or cold things cold.

Using Thermal Energy Cars turn chemical energy into thermal energy into mechanical energy. Refrigerators move thermal energy from inside the refrigerator to outside the refrigerator. A heating appliance transforms electric energy into thermal energy (hair dryer, stove, etc.) This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC