Thermal Energy

What are the basics for understanding heat phenomena? Heat energy, also called thermal energy, is the energy an object or substance has based on the movement of its molecules (more movement creates more heat). This unit engages students in interactive investigations to understand the fundamentals of thermal energy—temperature, heat capacity, and heat transfer (conduction, convection and radiation).

Engineers must understand the thermal properties of materials to be able to predict the performance of any given material over its lifetime in a specific application. They apply their understanding of the thermal properties of materials to design efficient heat transfer materials for better engines, spacecraft, electronic devices and appliances. Engineers also examine the thermal properties of insulation to design more energy efficient buildings and homes that use less energy for heating a cooling.