How Hot Is It?
Students explore thermal energy.Copyright 2010 Nikthestunned, WIkimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ThermiteReaction.jpg
Students learn about the nature of thermal energy, temperature and how materials store thermal energy. They discuss the difference between conduction, convection and radiation of thermal energy, and complete activities in which they investigate the difference between temperature, thermal energy and the heat capacity of different materials. Students also learn how some engineering requires an understanding of thermal energy.
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. Engineers apply their understanding of the thermal properties of materials to the design of efficient heat transfer materials for better engines, spacecraft and electronic devices. They also examine the thermal properties of insulation to design more efficient buildings and homes. Engineers develop ways to minimize heat transfer from a motor to the surrounding environment. Often they find ways to insulate the motor to decrease the convective heat transfer from the motor. They design a refrigerator to keep heat out of the inside, as well as keep the refrigerator contents cool.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Define, describe and identify the three methods of heat transfer: conduction, convection and radiation.
- Explain that some materials are good conductors of heat while others are insulators.
- Explain that different materials gain and lose thermal energy at different rates.
- Relate examples of engineered products that use a material's heat capacity and heat transfer.