Most of us use the word ‘heat’ to mean something that feels warm, but science

defines heat as the flow of energy from a warm object to a cooler object.

Heat energy is in volcanoes and ice

Heat energy is all around us – in volcanoes and in ice. All matter contains heat energy.

Actually, heat energy is all around us – in volcanoes, in icebergs and in your body.
All matter contains heat energy.

Heat energy is the result of the movement of tiny particles called atoms, molecules
or ions in solids, liquids and gases. Heat energy can be transferred from one object
to another. The transfer or flow due to the difference in temperature between the two
objects is called heat.

For example, an ice cube has heat energy and so does a glass of lemonade. If you
put the ice in the lemonade, the lemonade (which is warmer) will transfer some of its
heat energy to the ice. In other words, it will heat up the ice. Eventually, the ice will
melt and the lemonade and water from the ice will be the same temperature. This is
known as reaching a state of thermal equilibrium.

Moving particles
Matter is all around you. It is everything in the universe – anything that has
both mass and volume and takes up space is matter. Matter exists in different
physical forms – solids, liquids and gases.

All matter is made of tiny particles called atoms, molecules and ions. These tiny
particles are always in motion – either bumping into each other or vibrating back and
forth. It is the motion of particles that creates a form of energy called heat (or
thermal) energy that is present in all matter.

Particles in collision
Tiny particles in solids, liquids and gases are always in motion. It is the motion of
particles that creates a form of energy called thermal (heat) energy that is present in all
matter.

The particles in solids are tightly packed and can only vibrate. The particles in liquids
also vibrate but are able to move around by rolling over each other and sliding
around. In gases, the particles move freely with rapid, random motion.

Transferring heat energy – particles in collision

At higher temperatures, particles have more energy. Some of this energy can be
transmitted to other particles that are at a lower temperature. For example, in the
gas state, when a fast moving particlecollides with a slower moving particle, it
transfers some of its energy to the slower moving particle, increasing the speed of
that particle.

With billions of moving particles colliding into each other, an area of high energy will
slowly transfer across the material until thermal equilibrium is reached (the
temperature is the same across the material).

Changing states by heat transfer

Faster moving particles ‘excite’ nearby particles. If heated sufficiently, the movement
of particles in a solid increases and overcomes the bonds that hold the particles
together. The substance changes its state from a solid to a liquid (melting). If the
movement of the particles increases further in the liquid, then a stage is reached
where the substance changes into a gas (evaporation).

Three ways of transferring heat energy

All heat energy, including heat generated by fire, is transferred in different ways:

Convection transfers heat energy through gases and liquids. As air is heated, the
particles gain heat energy allowing them to move faster and further apart, carrying
the heat energy with them. Warm air is less dense than cold air and will rise. Cooler
air moves in below to replace the air that has risen. It heats up, rises, and is again
replaced by cooler air, creating a circular flow called a convection current. These
currents circle and heat the room.
Convection
Convection transfers heat through the air. As the air heats, it rises. Cooler air below
moves in, heats up and rises. As the risen air cools, it becomes denser and falls. This
circular flow of air creates a convection current.

Conduction transfers heat energy in solids. The moving particles of a warm soild
material can increase the heat energy of the particles in a cooler solid material by
transferring it directly from one particle to the next. Since particles are closer
together, solids conduct heat better than liquids or gases.
Conduction
Conduction moves heat through a material. It keeps a fire going by spreading the heat
through solid material.

Radiation is a method of heat transfer that does not require particles to carry the
heat energy. Instead, heat is transferred in infrared waves (part of
the electromagnetic spectrum). Heat waves radiate out from hot objects in all
directions, travelling at the speed of light, until they hit another object. When this
happens, the heat energy carried by the waves can be either absorbed or reflected.

Fire illustrates the three different methods of heat transfer. For example, the firebox
will heat up due to convection. The air above the fire will be warm due to convection.
You can warm your hands near to the flames due to radiant heat transfer.
Radiation
Radiation is the heat that we feel coming from a fire. It warms the air using heat waves
that radiate out from the fire in all directions until it is absorbed by objects.

An effect of heat – expansion

When gases, liquids and solids are heated, they expand. As they cool, they contract
or get smaller. The expansion of the gases and liquids is because the particles are
moving around very fast when they are heated and are able to move further apart so
they take up more room. If the gas or liquid is heated in a closed container, the
particles collide with the sides of the container, and this causes pressure. The
greater the number of collisions, the greater the pressure.

Sometimes when a house is on fire, the windows will explode outwards. This is
because the air in the house has been heated and the excited molecules are moving
at high speed around the room. They are pushing against the walls, ceiling, floor and
windows. Because the windows are the weakest part of the house structure, they
break and burst open, releasing the increased pressure