HEAT AND TEMPERATURE

Science: 2nd Secondary Education

HEAT AND TEMPERATURE

THE KINETIC THEORY OF MATTER.

WHAT IS THERMAL ENERGY?

The total thermal energy of a sample of matter is the average sum of the kinetic
energy of all particles in the system.

*KE= Kinetic Energy

Heat flows from a higher temperature to a lower temperature. One system
releases heat and the other absorbs it. Heat flow stops when the temperatures
are the same. This is called thermal equilibrium or thermalbalance.
In the International System the unit of measurement is the Joule (J). The
calorie is another unit of measurement. 1 Joule = 0.24 cal.
A calorie is defined as the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of
one gram of water one degree Celsius (cantidad de energa necesaria para
elevar 1C la temperatura de 1 g de agua)
1 Calorie (cal) = 4.18 Joule (J)

HEAT AND TEMPERATURE

Science: 2nd Secondary Education
1) Convert:
146 calories to joules
65, 450 joules to calories
147 KJ to calories
2) Translate these words:
Heat:
Thermal energy:
Joule:
International System:
Calorie:
Thermal equilibrium:
3) a) What is the unit of measurement in the International System?:
b) Is 1 Joule the same as 1 calorie? Why?
TEMPERATURE
Thermometer is an instrument which measures
temperature.

Temperature is measured in three different scales: Celsius, Kelvin and

Fahrenheit. Temperatures can be converted from one scale to another.
If we want to convert Celsius to Kelvin we need to use this formula:
T (K) = T (C) + 273

Example: 21 C = 294 K

If we want to convert Kelvin to Celsius we need to use the following formula:

T (C) = T (K) 273

Example: 313 K = 40 C

What is Absolute Zero?

Absolute zero is equivalent to 273 C or 0 K, at this temperature, particles are
not moving at all.

4) a) Convert into Kelvin degrees:

b)Convert into Celsius degrees:

20 C
150 C
-25 C
-400C

150 K
285 K
-25 K
300K

c) Are any of them impossible? Which one(s)?

HEAT AND TEMPERATURE

Science: 2nd Secondary Education
5) Translate these words:
Temperature increase:
Thermometer:
Temperature:
Centigrade:

Kevin scale:
Temperature decrease:
Celsius scale:
Fahrenheit scale:

6) In what scales of temperature can we measure the temperature?

When a substance is changing its state, the temperature of the substance
remains constant. For example boiling water at 100 C on changing state
becomes steam (vapour) at 100 C

HOW DOES HEAT TRANSFER?

Heat transfers by:
Conduction: It occurs in most solids. Heat is transferred by direct contact.
When two substances at different temperatures are in contact, heat flows
from the warmer substance to the cooler one. Example: you touch a warm
bar of iron.
- There are substances conductors (these substances allow heat to move
through them easily).
-There are substances non-conductors, A.K.A. insulators (these
substances do not allow heat to move through them easily).
Convection: Only occurs in liquids and gases (fluids). Heat is transferred
by the movement of convection currents. Example: The bubbles in boiling
water rise to the cooler area at the top.
Radiation: It is the transfer of heat by electromagnetic waves, which can
move through a vacuum. It does not require a medium to transfer heat. No
contact is necessary between the source and the heated substance. It is the
faster form of heat transfer. Example: Heat from Sun can be felt, but can not
be touched. Heat transfers through the space between the Sun and the
Earth.
3

HEAT AND TEMPERATURE

Science: 2nd Secondary Education
7) Translate:
Conduction:
Conductor:
Convection:
Radiation:

Non-conductor:
convection current:

8) In which state is the heat transferred by conduction?:

9) In which state is the heat transferred by convection?:
10) What are the differences between conductor and insulator substances?:
11) Label this picture with the Methods of Heat Transfer

HEAT AND TEMPERATURE

Science: 2nd Secondary Education
REVISION ACTIVITIES
1. Read and circle:
a. A cold substance gets hotter /colder when it touches a hot
substance
b. As a substance heats up, its temperature rises / falls
c. The boiling point of water is 0C / 100 C
d. 0C on the Celsius scale is the same as 273K / 0K on the Kelvin
scale
2. Read the text again and complete the table:
Its a process
Its a measurement
Its related to the kinetic energy of a substance
Its the transfer of energy from a hot to a cold substance
It creates thermal balance
Its measured by the Celsius and Kelvin scales
Heat
Temperature

3. Find the pair of words and match them with the definitions:
T

l
l

The scale based on the freezing and boiling points of water =

The energy created by motion =
The energy transfer from a hot to a cold substance =
The scale based on absolute zero =
The point when two substances are the same temperature =

HEAT AND TEMPERATURE

Science: 2nd Secondary Education
4. Complete the description of heat and temperature.
Celsius / temperature / rises / temperature / thermal energy
Kelvin / thermal balance

/ heat /

is the transfer of energy between two substances of

different
. The warmer substance transfers
to
the cooler one.
is when two substances are the same
temperature.
measures the average kinetic energy of a
substance. As a substance heats up, the particles move faster and the
temperature
. The
scale is based on
the freezing and boiling points of water. The
scale is based on
absolute zero.
5. What are the types of thermometres? Which one would you use in the
North Pole? Why?
6. What is called Absolute Zero?
7. What are the 3 states of matter? What is the difference in particles
disposition in the 3 states (make drawing)?
8. What happens with temperature when a substance is changing its state?
9. What are the Methods of Heat Transfer?
10. Fill in the gaps:
________is the transfer of energy between two substances with different
temperatures. It is a process and not something contained in a substance.
_______________ or thermal equilibrium is reached when a hot substance
comes into contact with a cooler substance and therefore thermal energy flows
from the hot one to the cooler one until both substances are the same
temperature.
_____________ measures thermal energy, which is the average kinetic energy
of the particles in a substance.
____________ is the temperature scale based on the freezing and boiling points
of water.
____________ is the temperature scale based on absolute zero, which is the
temperature when all the particles of a substance stop moving.
___________ is the unit of measurement of heat in the International System.

HEAT AND TEMPERATURE

Science: 2nd Secondary Education
___________ is an instrument which measures the temperature. Mercury and
alcohol are the most commonly used liquids in thermometers.
__________ is the transfer of heat by direct contact.
___________ are substances which allow heat to move through them easily.
___________ are substances which dont allow heat to move through them
easily.
___________ is the transfer of heat by the movement of flows.
___________ is the transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves.

11. Classify the following substances in thermal conductors or thermal

insulators:
copper, glass, steel, aluminium, wood, iron, cork, plastic, air, silver