Temperature, Thermal Energy & Heat
What do we measure with a thermometer?
Temperature.
What are the three main methods of heat transfer? List all three.
Conduction, convection, radiation.
Which material in the classroom would be a good insulator: metal desk or wooden desk?
Wooden desk (wood is a better insulator than metal)
The sun feels hot because it transfers energy to Earth. Which method of heat transfer is this?
Radiation (energy travels through space as electromagnetic waves).
Define "thermal energy"
Thermal energy: the total energy of all particles in an object.
What word describes the total energy of all the particles in an object?
Thermal energy
Which method of heat transfer happens by direct touching of particles?
Conduction (direct particle-to-particle transfer).
Which material conducts heat well: copper, wood, or plastic?
Copper (metal conducts heat well).
Why do tiles feel colder than carpet when you walk barefoot in winter? Give one reason about heat flow.
Tiles conduct heat away from your feet faster than carpet, so they feel colder because they draw heat from your skin more quickly.
Define "conductor" and give an example
Conductor: a material that allows heat to pass through it easily (example: metal).
If two objects are at the same temperature, will heat flow between them? Answer "Yes" or "No" and explain briefly.
No. If same temperature, there is no net heat flow.
Conduction occurs best in which type of materials: metals or insulators? Answer and give one example.
Metals. Example: copper or aluminum.
A thermos keeps liquids hot or cold by reducing which kinds of heat transfer? Name at least two
Reduces conduction and convection (and sometimes radiation) — vacuum layers and reflective coatings in a thermos reduce these transfers.
Explain how a radiator heats a room (mention at least one method of heat transfer).
A radiator heats air nearby (convection) which then circulates; it also emits some thermal radiation.
Define "insulator" and give an example.
Insulator: a material that slows heat transfer (example: foam, wood, or plastic).
Which is usually greater for a large tub of warm water: thermal energy or temperature? Explain in one sentence.
Thermal energy is usually greater for a large tub (because it has more particles and total energy) while temperature could be the same as a small cup.
Describe how convection moves heat in a pot of boiling water.
Hot water at the bottom rises as it warms, cooler water sinks, forming convection currents that circulate heat.
Explain why wearing several thin layers of clothing can keep you warmer than one thick layer.
Layers trap air between them; trapped air acts as an insulating layer, reducing heat loss.
Why does a black car get hotter in the sun than a white car? Provide a short scientific reason.
Black surfaces absorb more light and convert it to heat, so they warm up more than white surfaces that reflect more light.
What is "specific heat" in simple terms?
Specific heat: the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 unit mass of a substance by 1 degree.
Explain the difference between heat and temperature in one clear sentence.
Temperature measures average particle energy; heat is energy transferred from hotter to cooler objects.
Explain why a metal spoon left in a hot soup becomes hot at the handle end over time (mention method and particle behavior).
By conduction: particles in the hot soup collide with spoon particles, transferring kinetic energy along the spoon to the handle.
Two pans are made of the same metal but one has a thicker bottom. Predict which pan will heat up more slowly and explain why.
The thicker-bottom pan will heat more slowly because it has more material and greater heat capacity, so it takes more energy to raise its temperature.
Describe how ice in a drink cools the drink (mention heat flow direction and what happens to the ice).
Heat flows from the warmer drink into the colder ice; the ice absorbs energy and melts while the drink cools.
Explain in simple terms what happens at the particle level when a substance is heated
Particles move faster when heated; they collide more and spread out, increasing thermal energy and sometimes changing state (e.g., melting).