States of Matter and Thermal Energy Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering states of matter, particle motion, state transitions, temperature, heat, and thermal curves.

Temperature

The average speed or kinetic energy of the particles in a substance, measured in $^\text{o}\text{C}$

Heat

The total amount of thermal energy transferred between particles

Latent Heat Energy

The energy absorbed or released during a change in a physical state

Solid

A state of matter where particles are tightly packed together, vibrate in a fixed position against each other, and maintain a fixed shape and fixed volume

Liquid

A state of matter where particles are further apart but still touching, flow past each other, take the shape of the container, and have a fixed volume

Gas

A state of matter where particles are far apart, in fast motion colliding with each other, and fill the shape of the container

Evaporation

A change of state where a substance is heated, gaining thermal energy and particle kinetic energy, breaking the bonds that hold the particles together

Freezing

A change of state where a substance is cooled, losing thermal energy and particle kinetic energy, forming stronger bonds due to low energy

Heating Curve

A curve tracking state transitions over time as thermal energy is added, moving from Solid to Melting, Liquid, Boiling, and Gas

Cooling Curve

A curve tracking state transitions over time as thermal energy is lost, moving from Gas to Condensing, Liquid, Freezing, and Solid