Chapter 6 Lesson 3 Summary Using Thermal Energy

Conservation of Energy

The total amount of energy in a system remains constant; it can change forms but does not increase or decrease.

Heating Appliance

A device that converts electrical energy into thermal energy, examples include curling irons, clothes dryers, and toasters.

Thermostat

A device that regulates the temperature of a system, containing a bimetallic strip that curls due to thermal expansion, activating switches to control heating or cooling.

Refrigerator

A device that transfers thermal energy from a cooler location to a warmer location, using electric energy to keep the inside cold by cycling a coolant that absorbs and releases heat.

Heat Engine

A machine, like a car engine, that converts thermal energy into mechanical energy, typically with low efficiency, converting only a fraction of the chemical potential energy into work.