Introduction

Growing up in Pittsburgh, molten steel was a common sight. Still it is imposing at 1500oC. The worst common burns you can imagine are steam burns. You have not only water heated to its boiling point but gaseous steam carrying the heat of vaporization. Its a great deal of energy in a small space.

Heat, Temperature & Internal Energy According to the Kinetic Molecular Theory all matter is made of molecules that are in constant random motion. The gas molecules that make up air move freely all around you. Molecules of water move about in a container. The molecules in your chair constantly move back and forth , or vibrate. Matter that moves has kinetic energy. The measurement of the average kinetic energy of the molecules in a substance is called temperature.

Heat, Temperature & Internal Energy

If two objects with different temperatures come into contact, energy flows from the object with the higher temperature to the one with the lower temperature. This process of transferring energy from one body of higher temperature to another of lower temperature is called heat. When energy (often called thermal energy) transfers to a substance, it adds up to the internal energy of the substance. Internal energy is the total amount of energy (kinetic plus potential) a substance contains. Most of the internal energy of a substance is kinetic energy.

Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics

The direction of energy flow (via heat) is from a body of higher temperature to a body of lower temperature. Once the flow of energy stops, the two bodies (or systems) are said to be in thermal equilibrium with each other (and with the surrounding).

Check Your Understanding

1. How are internal energy and moving molecules related? Ans. As internal energy increases, molecules move faster. 2. How do the temperature and internal energy in a cup of hot tea change overnight? Ans. The temperature will decrease and its internal energy will also decrease as thermal energy flows out to the cooler air.

3. Suppose you put some hot water in the refrigerator for two hours. Explain what happens to the molecules of water? Ans. The molecules move more slowly as energy flows from the hot water to the cool air. They lose kinetic energy. 4. True or False: Temperature is a measure of the total kinetic energy of molecules in a substance. Ans. False. Average KE (not total KE)

5. Why is it incorrect to say that matter contains heat? Ans. Heat is the process of transferring energy from one body to another by temperature difference. It is internal energy that is contained in a body NOT heat!