Amplify: Thermal Energy, Chapt. 3

Front

What is thermal energy?

Back

Thermal energy is the TOTAL kinetic energy of the molecules of an object or material.

Front

What happens to thermal energy when two objects at different temperatures come into contact?

Back

Thermal energy will transfer from the object of higher temperature to the object of lower temperature until they reach equilibrium.

Front

What is equilibrium in the context of thermal energy?

Back

Equilibrium is the state where two objects in contact have the same temperature and no net transfer of thermal energy occurs.

Front

How does the volume of an object affect its thermal energy when temperature is constant?

Back

Objects of different volumes at the same temperature can have different total kinetic energy, as total kinetic energy depends on both temperature and volume.

Front

What is the relationship between temperature and thermal energy?

Back

Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the molecules, while thermal energy is the total kinetic energy.

Front

If an ice cube is added to a large bowl of soup and a small mug of soup, what will happen?

Back

Both will decrease their temperature, but the mug will decrease more because it has less overall volume.

Front

What is the direction of thermal energy transfer?

Back

Thermal energy always transfers from an area/object of higher temperature to an area/object of lower temperature.

Front

What is average kinetic energy?

Back

Average kinetic energy is the mean energy of the molecules in an object, which relates to its temperature.

Front

What is total kinetic energy?

Back

Total kinetic energy is the sum of the kinetic energies of all the molecules in an object.

Front

What is the significance of thermal equilibrium?

Back

Thermal equilibrium signifies that there is no net flow of thermal energy between objects, indicating they are at the same temperature.