Intro to Thermal Energy

Front

What is thermal energy?

Back

Thermal energy is the energy that comes from the temperature of matter, which is related to the kinetic energy of its atoms and molecules.

Front

What causes atoms to have kinetic energy?

Back

Atoms have kinetic energy because they are always vibrating.

Front

What type of energy does thermal energy come from?

Back

Thermal energy comes from the kinetic energy of the atoms and molecules that make up the matter.

Front

What does temperature measure?

Back

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

Front

What is kinetic energy?

Back

Kinetic energy is the energy of motion.

Front

What happens to temperature as the kinetic energy of molecules increases?

Back

As the kinetic energy of the molecules in a substance increases, the temperature increases.

Front

What is the relationship between kinetic energy and temperature?

Back

The relationship is direct; as kinetic energy increases, temperature also increases.

Front

What is an example of kinetic energy in everyday life?

Back

An example of kinetic energy is a moving car or a flowing river.

Front

How does thermal energy affect states of matter?

Back

Thermal energy can cause changes in states of matter, such as melting ice into water or boiling water into steam.

Front

What is the difference between temperature and thermal energy?

Back

Temperature measures the average kinetic energy of particles, while thermal energy is the total energy of all the particles in a substance.