Heat

Concept Map

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Notes for teachers

When we touch something we often say it is hot or cold. Obviously we are referring to some property that feels different with respect to our own body and we refer to this as energy. We have also noticed that we feel hotness when we are near fire or a light or from the sun. The characteristic of matter we are referring to is the energy that is contained and transmitted; the transfer is felt and described as heat.

Heat thus refers to one of the forms in which the energy in an object can be transferred to its surroundings.

Yet another observation we can make with respect to heat is how hot or how cold an object is. The degree of hotness or coldness of an object is what we use to compare the heat energy contained in an object with respect to its surroundings. This degree of hotness or coldness is what we measure as temperature.

How hot or cold something will determine how much energy it will give out to or receive from the environment.

Temperature of an object determines how much energy - heat - it will give out or receive.

All molecules in matter vibrate and they possess kinetic energy. The more energy they have the more they will vibrate. The total amount of energy contained in the substance depends on the individual energy of the molecules and the number of molecules present. The temperature tells us what is the average of the kinetic energy. When temperature is high, that means average energy of the molecules is more and when they give out energy as heat, the average kinetic energy decreases, resulting in temperature decrease.

Effects of heat Heat changes state of matter, increases its temperature and results in expansion. It is this property of expansion that allows us to build thermometers. The change in heat energy is determined by temperature change. How much temperature changes is determined by the heat capacity of the substance.

Lesson plan

[Lesson Plans]

Web Interatives

Interactive simulation on temperature. NSTA-Learning-Object

Multimedia resources

This lively video explains the difference between heat and temperature.

One more video on the same.

Fun corner

Usage

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