Thermal energy
Theme: YOU AND ENERGY
Basic science J.S.S.2 Third Term
WEEK 2
Thermal energy
Performance Objectives
Student should be able to:
- Define what thermal energy is.
- Explain what heat flow is.
Content
Thermal energy
Energy transfer is the process of transferring energy from one place to another. The word thermal means heat. Thermal energy is the transfer of heat from one place to another.
Heat flow
Energy transfer means that energy moves from one place to another (without changing form). The process of heat flow from the sun to us is known as radiation while the heat flow from a pot filled with hot soup to the spoon that came I contact with pot is known as conduction. There is also a third process of heat flow known as convection. Therefore, heat flow simply means that energy is transferred from a hotter part of an object to a cooler part of the object.
How heat flows from a hotter object to a cool one when in contact
When particles in matter (or substance preferable a metallic substance) is heated the particles vibrate, hitting successive ones which is not in contact with the source of heat. This raises their temperature until all particles I the metallic substance is heated up.
N.B: A hot body has energy stored up in the form of potential energy in it.
In order to convert the potential energy into kinetic energy, heat then passes to another particle which is lower in energy. This makes a hot body lose its heat energy to a cooler one.