Thermal Energy Vocabulary

Transfer of thermal energy through direct contact.

• radiation

• convection

• conduction

thermal energy is transferred by the movement of matter; this happens in gasses and liquids; WARM MATTER RISES AND COOLER MATTER SINKS; this makes gas and liquid flow in a pattern

• Radiation

• Convection

• Conduction

heat is transferred through electromagnetic rays; matter is not needed at all to transfer energy; thermal energy travels through space

• Radiation

• Conduction

• Convection

a material that transfers energy easily; metals

• Conductor

• Insulator

a material that does not easily transfer thermal energy or electric current between its particles

• Conductor

• Insulator

Transfer of thermal energy from one object to another or one region to another

• Thermometer

• Temperature

• Heat

energy of motion

• Stored energy

• kinetic energy

potential energy

• Stored energy

• kinetic energy

the measure of the amount of kinetic energy in matter

• Thermometer

• Temperature

• Heat

the scientific tool used to measure temperature, or the amount of heat in matter

• Thermometer

• Temperature

• Heat