THERMAL ENERGY

TEKS 7.8C

Temperature and
Kinetic Energy

KEY IDEAS

• What is temperature?
• What is thermal energy?
• What causes thermal expansion?

Words to Know

temperature
thermal energy

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Copyright © Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved. Savvas is not responsible for any modifications made by end users to the content posted in its original format.

What is temperature? continued

The average kinetic energy of the
particles in an object is its temperature.

Fahrenheit A degree on the Fahrenheit
(F) scale is smaller than a degree on
the Celsius scale or the Kelvin scale.

Celsius The Celsius (C) scale is based
on pure water freezing at 0ºC and
boiling at 100ºC.

Kelvin 0 K, which is equivalent to
−273.15ºC, is known as absolute zero.

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Measuring Temperature

Identify Choose the appropriate temperatures for each position on
the Celsius and Fahrenheit thermometers.

Tiles

37º

98.6º

20º

68º

32º

0º

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Measuring Temperature Answers

Identify Choose the appropriate temperatures for each position on
the Celsius and Fahrenheit thermometers.

Tiles

98.6º

68º

32º

37º

20º

0º

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What is thermal energy? continued

Thermal energy is the
total kinetic energy, or
energy of motion, of the
particles in an object or
system.

The kinetic energy of
the particles in warmer
objects is greater than
that of the particles in
cooler objects.

Wolfgang Pölzer/Alamy Stock Photo

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Identifying Thermal Energy Answers

Identify For each arrow,
choose “Greater average
KE,” "Greater TE,” or
“Both greater.”

Tiles

KE = kinetic energy
TE = thermal energy

Greater

average KE

Greater TE
Both

greater
Greater TE

Greater

average KE

Greater TE

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What causes thermal expansion? continued

If something gets warmer,
its particles spread out
and cause the object to
expand. That is
thermal expansion.

When something gets cold,
its particles slow down and
get closer together, so the
object contracts.

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Thermal Expansion and Contraction Answers

Summarize Use the words and phrases to complete each
part of the sentence.

Word Bank

Adding thermal energy to an

object

increases

the temperature of

the object, and therefore

increases

its thermal energy, which results

in

an increase

in size.

Exit Ticket

Choose one of the following ways to
explain the relationships between
temperature, kinetic energy, thermal
energy, and thermal expansion.

1.

Write a three- or four-sentence
paragraph.

2.

Draw a thermometer being used in
one or more environments or
systems. Label the thermometer to
indicate the temperature and
explain what is happening to the
particles in the liquid.

TEKS 7.8A

Thermal Energy
Transfer

KEY IDEAS

• How is thermal energy transferred by conduction?
• How is thermal energy transferred by convection?
• How is thermal energy transferred by radiation?

Words to Know

conduction
thermal conductor
thermal insulator
convection
radiation

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Copyright © Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved. Savvas is not responsible for any modifications made by end users to the content posted in its original format.

How is thermal energy transferred
by conduction? continued

The transfer of thermal
energy between objects
through direct contact is
called conduction.

Substances that thermal
energy can move through
quickly are called thermal
conductors.

Substances that thermal
energy cannot move
through are called
thermal insulators.

Alleksander/Shutterstock

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Thermal Conductors and Insulators

Classify Sort each object from the word bank into the
appropriate column of the table.

Insulators

Conductors

potholder

fleece jacket

soldering iron

car radiator

wool scarf

copper pan

Word Bank

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Thermal Conductors and Insulators Answers

Classify Sort each object from the word bank into the
appropriate column of the table.

Word Bank

copper pan

Conductors

wool scarf

car radiator

soldering iron

Insulators

fleece jacket

potholder

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How is thermal energy transferred
by convection? continued

Convection is a type of thermal
energy transfer in which currents
carry thermal energy from one part of
a fluid to another.

Warmer, less-dense material
rises. Then it sinks as it cools and
becomes more dense.

In the lava lamp, wax rises and falls
as it gains energy from the warm bulb
and falls as it loses thermal energy.

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Convection Currents

Identify Choose the correct phrases to label the
stages of convection.

Word Bank

Fluid warms
and expands.

Fluid rises.

Fluid cools
and contracts.

Fluid sinks.

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Convection Currents Answers

Identify Choose the correct phrases to label the
stages of convection.

Fluid rises.

Fluid warms
and expands.
Fluid sinks.

Fluid cools
and contracts.

Fluid sinks.

Fluid cools
and contracts.

Fluid rises.

Fluid warms
and expands.

Word Bank

Fluid sinks.

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How is thermal energy transferred by
radiation? continued

Being warmed by sunlight is an example of thermal energy transfer
by means of radiation, or electromagnetic waves.

Radiation can transfer energy through millions of miles of empty
space, since matter is not required for the energy to be transferred.

KarepaStock/Shutterstock

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Radiation

Interpret Match the displayed temperature of each thermometer to
the location that best describes the amount of radiation.

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Radiation Answers

Interpret Match the displayed temperature of each thermometer in
the location that best describes the amount of radiation.

Exit Ticket

Choose one of the following systems. Develop a
plan for how you could investigate different
methods of thermal energy transfer in this
system, including conduction, convection, and
radiation.

1.

A warm cup of tea sitting on the counter.

2.

Ice cubes placed in a glass of lemonade.

TEKS 7.8B

Thermal Energy
and Equilibrium

KEY IDEAS

• How does thermal energy flow in a system?
• What happens when a system reaches

thermal equilibrium?

Words to Know

thermal equilibrium

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Copyright © Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved. Savvas is not responsible for any modifications made by end users to the content posted in its original format.

How does thermal energy flow in
a system? continued

Thermal energy only flows in one direction—from warmer
objects to cooler objects. The cold ice cream will continue
to melt as long as thermal energy continues to flow from
the warmer environment to the ice cream.

Debra Anderson/Shutterstock

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Track the Thermal Energy

Illustrate Choose the appropriate word for each space to show the
directions of thermal energy transfer in the system here.

Anastasiia Agafonova/Shutterstock

cold drink

hand

jar

spoon

Word Bank

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Track the Thermal Energy Answers

Illustrate Choose the appropriate word for each space to show the
directions of thermal energy transfer in the system here.

Word Bank

hand

spoon

cold drink

jar

Anastasiia Agafonova/Shutterstock

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What happens when a system reaches
thermal equilibrium? continued

The hot liquid wax loses thermal energy to its
surroundings until the melted wax and solid wax reach
the same temperature. That is thermal equilibrium. At
that point, the melted wax has become a solid again.

G.Ishimaru/Shutterstock

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Thermal Equilibrium

Interpret Choose the pair of temperatures that best
represents how this two-part system would approach
thermal equilibrium after an hour of contact.

One hour later

Beginning temperatures

54ºC

Predictions

70ºC

0ºC

9ºC

105ºC

11ºC

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Thermal Equilibrium Answers

Interpret Choose the pair of temperatures that best
represents how this two-part system would approach
thermal equilibrium after an hour of contact.

Beginning temperatures

One hour later

54ºC

70ºC

0ºC

Predictions

70ºC

105ºC

9ºC

54ºC

11ºC

Exit Ticket

Plan an investigation to demonstrate your
understanding of thermal equilibrium in a
system. Choose one of the following systems
or create your own to investigate.

1.

A chilled glass and room temperature
orange juice.

2.

Ice cubes and room temperature
lemonade.

3.

A warm pitcher of tea placed into a
refrigerator.

Multiple Choice

The diagram above represents a thermometer. Which of the following best explains how the thermometer works?

• Liquid changes to a gas when heated.

• Gas changes to a liquid when heated.

• Liquids expand when heated and contract when cooled.

• Liquids contract when heated and expand when cooled.

Multiple Choice

The three scales used to measure temperature are

• metric, American and wrong

• Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Calvin

• Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Kelvin

Multiple Choice

Heat always moves

• in convection currents

• by radiation

• from hot to cold

• from cold to hot

Multiple Choice

The diagram above shows a Bunsen burner heating a beaker of water on a beaker stand. The arrows represent the transfer of heat energy in the water. Which process is primarily responsible for the transfer of heat in the beaker as indicated by the arrows in the diagram?

• conduction

• radiation

• convection

• condensation

Multiple Choice

The measure of the average kinetic energy of particles in an object is its

• temperature

• heat

• thermal energy

• hotness

Multiple Choice

A material that allows heat to pass through it well, unlike wool, is called a

• insulator

• conductor

• metal

• thermal expander

Multiple Choice

When heat is passed on by direct contact of particles, this occurs

• conduction

• condensation

• convection

• radiation

Multiple Choice

Transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves is called

• conduction

• convection

• radiation

• infrared proton rays (sounds cool, but I made it up so don't pick this one)

Multiple Choice

A material that doesn’t allow heat to pass through it easily is a/an

• conductor

• insulator

• metal

• rock

Multiple Choice

An increase in thermal energy leads to _____

• an increase in heat and an increase in kinetic energy until a phase change occurs.

• a decrease in heat and an increase in kinetic energy until a phase change occurs.

• a decrease in heat and a decrease in kinetic energy until a phase change occurs.

• an increase in heat and a decrease in kinetic energy until a phase change occurs.

Multiple Choice

A student wants to collect data during an experiment about the transfer of kinetic energy in a sample of water and ice. Which tool will help her collect the necessary data?

• thermometer 

• balance 

• meter stick

• graduated cylinder 

Multiple Choice

A teacher opens a window on a cold day. Which statement explains why the room starts to feel cooler? 

• Air moves from the areas of higher temperature to areas of lower temperature.

• The kinetic energy of the air molecules outside is higher than the kinetic energy of the air molecules inside. 

• Cold air is moving into the room from outside.

• The density of the air is lower on the inside than on the outside.

Multiple Choice

What are some examples of heat transfer?

• conduction
• convection
• radiation
• all of the above