Intro to Thermal Energy

Front

What is thermal energy?

Back

Thermal energy is the total kinetic energy of the particles in a substance, which is related to its temperature.

Front

What happens to thermal energy during an exothermic reaction?

Back

In an exothermic reaction, thermal energy is released into the surroundings.

Front

What is the direction of thermal energy transfer?

Back

Thermal energy always moves from a warmer area to a cooler area.

Front

How does removing thermal energy from a substance affect its atomic motion?

Back

Removing thermal energy causes the atoms in a substance to vibrate slower.

Front

What occurs when thermal energy is removed from a substance?

Back

When thermal energy is removed from a substance, it may freeze or change state.

Front

What does temperature measure in terms of atomic motion?

Back

Temperature measures the average kinetic energy of the atoms in a substance.

Front

What is the relationship between thermal energy and state changes?

Back

Thermal energy is involved in state changes; adding or removing thermal energy can cause a substance to change from solid to liquid to gas or vice versa.

Front

What is an endothermic reaction?

Back

An endothermic reaction is a chemical reaction that absorbs thermal energy from its surroundings.

Front

What is the significance of the specific heat capacity of a substance?

Back

Specific heat capacity is the amount of thermal energy required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius.

Front

How does thermal energy affect the temperature of a substance?

Back

As thermal energy increases, the temperature of a substance typically increases, indicating greater atomic motion.