By Shana Wojcik & Delanie Loughran

 Any source of usable power such as fossil fuel, electricity, or solar radiation  The capacity to do work (physics definition)  The capacity for vigorous activity

The energy that is caused by particles moving The measurement related to the quantity of molecules, depends on mass and temperature Always moves from warmer to cooler objects Heat is the result of molecules moving quickly; heat is moving energy

Solar-the sun Geothermal- heat from inside the earth Biomass Natural gases

 Convection, conduction, and radiation are the three main mechanisms for thermal energy transfer. Whether something is warming you up or cooling you down, there is some form of energy occurring.

Convection is the transfer of heat in liquids and gases by the actual movement though currents of the heated matter. This form of transferring heat is responsible for making pasta rise and fall in a pot of heated water. The warmer parts of the water are less dense so they rise. On the other hand, the cooler parts of the water are less dense so they. Another example is steam rising out of a hot cup of coffee.

Conduction is the transfer of energy in mostly solids and sometimes liquids through matter from particle to particle. The heat is transferred and distributed from atom to atom in a substance. An example of conduction is a spoon sitting in a hot bowl of soup gets warm because it conducts the warmth from the soup. Touching metal is another form of conduction. Metals conduct heat away from your hand making it seem that it is cold when the heat is just leaving your hand…tricky,eh?

Radiation is electromagnetic waves that directly transport energy through space. An example of radiation is the sun because it radiates its heat and energy through space to earth.

The study of conversions between thermal energy and other forms of energy

Energy can be changed from one form to another, but it can’t be created or destroyed Energy is conserved  Example : When gas is confined by a piston in a cylinder (part of a car engine), the gas will expand when heated doing work on the piston.

Thermal energy flows from colder objects to hotter objects Example: When you take a cold soda out of a cooler at a picnic, the drink is not going to get colder when you leave it sit outside 

 This law states that if all kinetic energy, or the thermal motion of molecules, could be removed, a state called absolute zero would occur; absolute zero can never be reached  Absolute Zero = 0 Kelvins = ° Celsius  Absolute Zero would only happen in our universe when if all the matter and energy becomes randomly distributed across space. The temperature of empty space presently is about 2.7 Kelvins  Kelvin (K) is a base SI unit used for measuring thermodynamic temperature

The way molecules move in water is an example of the third law of thermodynamics. Water has three states of matter: gas, liquid, and solid. When water is in its gas form, the molecules can move around freely because water vapor has a high entropy. As water vapor cools, it becomes liquid, the most common form. The molecules in the water can still move around, just not as freely because they’ve lost some entropy. When water gets colder, it turns into ice which is its solid form. Now the water has lost even more entropy and the molecules can’t move around at all, they can only vibrate inside the ice crystals. As the water is cooled more, even these slight vibrations will diminish. It isn’t possible, but if the water could reach absolute zero the molecules would stop moving altogether and it would have no entropy at all.

Boiling a pot of water contributes to the thermal energy or heat to the bottom of the pot, which is transferred to the water in the pot.

The sun’s rays can cause sunburn, which occurs when the UV rays scorch and damage skin cells… Ouch!  Use sunblock!

Rubbing your hands together for heat, using the brakes on your car, making skid marks with your bike tires, getting a brush burn on your knee when you fall down

Works Cited "Energy." Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary. MICRA, Inc. 14 October Thermal Energy. 14 October “What is the definition of thermal energy?.” Toolingu. 14 October “Thermal Energy.” Edventures Term Browser. 14 October Frank, David, Wysession, Michael, Yancopoulos, Sophia. “Thermodynamics.” Physical Science Concepts in Action. “Sources of Energy.” Energy Kid’s Page. 15 October 2008.