Thermal Thermal ENERGYENERGY

Kim Lachler

Updated 2015NCES: 6.P.2. & 3

Thermal EnergyThermal Energy

Is kinetic due to Is kinetic due to the random the random motion of motion of particles.particles.

Thermal EnergyThermal Energy

The amount of thermal energy is The amount of thermal energy is determined by how active the atoms determined by how active the atoms of a substance are.of a substance are.

Thermal EnergyThermal Energy

The faster the atoms are The faster the atoms are moving the hotter the moving the hotter the substance is.substance is.

The slower the atoms The slower the atoms are moving the cooler are moving the cooler the substance is.the substance is.

Thermal EnergyThermal Energy

What would happen if you put a What would happen if you put a blown up balloon in the freezer?blown up balloon in the freezer?– It would shrink because the atoms would It would shrink because the atoms would

be moving less.be moving less. What would happen if you put the What would happen if you put the

same balloon in the sun?same balloon in the sun?– It would expand because the atoms It would expand because the atoms

would be moving more.would be moving more.

Thermal EnergyThermal Energy

Thermal expansionThermal expansion

– Is when things expand (grow bigger) Is when things expand (grow bigger) when they heat up due to the atoms when they heat up due to the atoms moving more.moving more.

Thermal EnergyThermal Energy

Thermal contractionThermal contraction

– Is when things shrink (become smaller) Is when things shrink (become smaller) when they cool down due to the atoms when they cool down due to the atoms moving less.moving less.

Thermal EnergyThermal Energy

Why do engineers design bridges and Why do engineers design bridges and side walks with cracks in them?side walks with cracks in them?

– To give room for thermal expansion and To give room for thermal expansion and thermal contraction.thermal contraction.

Thermal EnergyThermal Energy

Thermal EquilibriumThermal Equilibrium– Warmer substances give energy to Warmer substances give energy to

cooler substances until they become the cooler substances until they become the same temperature.same temperature.

Thermal EnergyThermal Energy

What happens when you add an ice What happens when you add an ice cube to hot chocolate (besides the cube to hot chocolate (besides the ice cube melting or the hot chocolate ice cube melting or the hot chocolate getting colder)?getting colder)?

– Thermal Equilibrium – The hot chocolate Thermal Equilibrium – The hot chocolate gives it’s energy to the ice cube until gives it’s energy to the ice cube until they are the same temperature.they are the same temperature.

BibliographyBibliography Power Masters Motor Sports Academy, Heat Energy, Power Masters Motor Sports Academy, Heat Energy,

http://www.powermasters.com/heat_energy.html, accessed 12/27/2010http://www.powermasters.com/heat_energy.html, accessed 12/27/2010 Science Classified, Thermal expansion, http://www.scienceclarified.com/Sp-Th/Thermal-Science Classified, Thermal expansion, http://www.scienceclarified.com/Sp-Th/Thermal-

Expansion.html, accessed 12/28/2010Expansion.html, accessed 12/28/2010