Thermal Energy and Heat Transfer

These flashcards cover key concepts related to thermal energy, heat transfer, and temperature.

Thermal Energy

The total sum of the kinetic energies of all the particles in an object.

Kinetic Energy

The energy an object possesses due to its motion, increasing with temperature.

Thermal Expansion

The increase in the volume of a substance due to an increase in temperature, causing particles to spread apart.

Convection

The transfer of thermal energy through fluids (liquids and gases) by the motion of currents.

Radiation

The transfer of thermal energy by electromagnetic waves, which can occur in a vacuum.

Thermal Equilibrium

The state in which two objects reach the same temperature, resulting in no net energy flow between them.

Temperature

A measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in an object.

Chemical Energy

The energy stored in the bonds of chemical compounds, which is not part of thermal energy.

Conduction

The transfer of heat through direct contact of particles, without the movement of the material as a whole.

Density

The mass per unit volume of a substance, which can change with temperature due to thermal expansion.