Thermal Energy Concepts

Flashcards on Thermal Energy Concepts

Solid

Characterized by a fixed shape and a fixed volume.

Liquid

Has no fixed shape but does have a fixed volume.

Gas

Has neither a fixed shape nor a fixed volume.

Celsius Scale

Defined with zero degrees Celsius at the freezing point of water and a hundred degrees Celsius at the boiling point of water.

Kelvin Scale

Has the same increment as Celsius, but its zero point is absolute zero.

Absolute Zero

Zero degrees Kelvin, theoretically the coldest temperature possible.

Temperature in Kelvin formula

Temperature in degrees Celsius plus 273.

Density

Mass divided by volume (ρ = m/V), measured in kilograms per meter cubed (kg/m³).

Temperature (definition)

The average kinetic energy of the molecules.

Average Kinetic Energy formula

Ek = (3/2) * kB * T, where k_B is the Boltzmann constant.

Boltzmann Constant Value

1.38 x 10^-23 joules per Kelvin.

Heat

A transfer of energy between a system and its surroundings, denoted by 'q' and measured in joules.

Heat flow direction

Naturally flows from hot to cold.

Internal Energy

The total sum of intermolecular potential energy (forces between molecules) and kinetic energy (due to random motion), denoted by 'U' and measured in joules.