Heat and Materials

Front

Conductor Noun

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[kuhn-duhk-ter]

Back

Conductor

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A material that allows heat to be transmitted easily through it, facilitating rapid energy transfer.

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Example: Heating one end of a metal bar transfers thermal energy to the cooler end.

Front

Insulator Noun

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[in-suh-ley-ter]

Back

Insulator

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A material that does not conduct heat well, slowing the transfer of thermal energy.

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Example: A vacuum flask uses a vacuum to slow heat transfer, demonstrating insulation.

Front

Specific Heat Noun

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[spi-sif-ik heet]

Back

Specific Heat

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The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of a material by one kelvin.

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Example: Particles in a material move faster as they absorb heat, showing energy transfer.

Front

Thermal Expansion Noun

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[thur-muhl ik-span-shuhn]

Back

Thermal Expansion

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The tendency of matter to increase in volume when its thermal energy increases and its particles spread out.

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Example: Particles spread out as temperature increases, showing thermal expansion.

Front

Contract Verb

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[kuhn-trakt]

Back

Contract

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To decrease in size or volume, which typically happens when matter is cooled and its particles move closer.

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Example: Cooling air inside a balloon causes it to contract as particles move closer together.

Front

Thermal Energy Noun

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[thur-muhl en-er-jee]

Back

Thermal Energy

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The total kinetic and potential energy of all the particles that make up an object.

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Example: Particles in a hot area move faster, transferring thermal energy to cooler areas.

Front

Heat Noun

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[heet]

Back

Heat

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The transfer of thermal energy from a warmer object or substance to a cooler one.

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Example: Heat moves from the warmer red area to the cooler blue area, showing thermal energy transfer.

Front

Temperature Noun

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[tem-per-uh-cher]

Back

Temperature

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A measure of the average kinetic energy of the individual particles within an object or substance.

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Example: Particles in a hot area move faster than those in a cold area, showing temperature differences.

Front

Thermometer Noun

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[ther-mom-i-ter]

Back

Thermometer

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An instrument used for measuring and indicating the temperature of an object or its environment.

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Example: A digital thermometer displays the temperature it measures with its probe.

Front

Conduction Noun

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[kuhn-duhk-shuhn]

Back

Conduction

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The transfer of heat between substances that are in direct contact with each other through particle collisions.

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Example: Heat flows from a hot block to a cold block, showing conduction.