Thermal energy

Temperature

A measure of how Hot or cold something is.

Molecule

a group of atoms joined together in a particular way

Average

a number that summarizes a set of data and that can be computed by adding all the numbers in a list and then dividing by the number of numbers in the list

Kinetic Energy

the energy that an object has because it is moving

Infer

to reach a conclusion using evidence and reasoning

System

a set of interacting parts forming a complex whole

Transfer

to move from one object to another or one place to another

collision

the moment when two objects hit each other

change

when something becomes different over time

stability

when something stays mostly the same over time

liquid temperature movement

there is more movement within warmer liquids than cooler liquids

Atomic Structures

Things are made of molecules (or other types of atom groups)

Properties of molecular speed

When a thing gets hotter its molecules are moving faster and has more kinetic energy. Compared to when a thing gets colder its molecules are moving slower and it has less kinetic energy.

What is temperature

The measure of the average speed and kinetic energy of an object’s molecules

Absolute zero

It’s the limit on how cold something can get to. Causes zero molecular movement

Why are averages useful?

Averages are useful because they make it easier to compare two sets of data.

Why are models useful

Models are representations of systems that make it easier to compare two sets of data.

Energy Transfer

Heat will transfer through molecules until it reaches a stable state (equilibrium). Thermal energy also contributes to this. Thermal energy is the total amount of energy in a substance. Thermal energy contributes because temperature is thermal energy divided by the number of molecules in a system. The energy gained or lost in a molecular structure will be divided to make a average.

What happens when the total kinetic energy increases

The greater the total kinetic energy (thermal energy) something has, the more energy it has to transfer to other parts of a system.

Properties of energy

Energy isn’t created or destroyed. Therefore, as energy transfers, it increases in one part of the system as it decreases in another part of the system. The total energy of a system doesn’t change.