THERMAL ENERGY

Thermal energy
is the energy that comes from heat.
This heat is generated by the movement of
tiny particles within an object.
can used in Burning fossil fuels
(coal, natural gas, oil, gasoline) converts
chemical energy to thermal energy and
can be used to heat homes and cook
food.
 THREE TYPES OF THERMAL ENERGY

THERMAL CONDUCTON
is the transfer of heat (internal energy) by
microscopic collisions of particles and
movement of electrons within a body. The
microscopically colliding objects, that include
molecules, atoms, and electrons, transfer
disorganized microscopic kinetic and potential
energy, jointly known as internal energy.
 THERMAL CONVECTON
is the transfer of heat from one place to
another by the movement of fluids. It is
usually the dominant form of heat transfer in
liquids and gases. Although often discussed
as a distinct method of heat transfer,
convective heat transfer involves the
combined processes of unknown conduction
(heat diffusion) and advection (heat transfer
by bulk fluid flow).
 THERMAL RADIATION
is the emission or transmission of energy in the
form of waves or particles through space or through
a material medium
electromagnetic radiation, such as radio waves,
microwaves, visible light, x-rays, and gamma radiation
()
particle radiation, such as alpha radiation (), beta
radiation (), and neutron radiation (particles of non-zero
rest energy)
acoustic radiation, such as ultrasound, sound, and seismic
waves (dependent on a physical transmission medium)
gravitational radiation, radiation that takes the form of
gravitational waves, or ripples in the curvature of
spacetime.
Sources of Thermal Energy

Chemical Energy
Chemical Energy can be
transformed into Thermal Energy when
wood, or coal is burned.
Electrical Energy
Electricity is produced in many ways.
Hydro-electric dams use the force of gravity
which pulls the water over the dam to turn
turbines, which are attached to generators,
which produce the electrical energy from the
mechanical energy of the generators.
 Mechanical Forces
Mechanical forces that push or pull
objects often release thermal energy, as do
Frictional forces.

Geothermal Energy
Volcanoes, hot springs and geysers are sources
of geothermal energy - energy from the interior of the
earth. The thermal energy from these events can
produce hot water or steam, which can be then piped
to a power plant at the surface. This can be used to run
turbines which produce electrical energy.
 Solar energy
is clean and is guaranteed not to run out. It is
not available all the time (nighttime, less in winter/
than in summer).
Passive solar heating - uses the materials in the
structure to absorb, store and release the solar energy.
Active solar heating - uses mechanical devices to
collect and distribute the thermal energy

Wind Energy
Wind energy is the energy of
moving air, and is a result of solar energy
and convection. As the sun heats up the air,
the warm air rises and cools off. The cooler
air falls, creating the convection currents
called thermals
ATOMIC VIBRATION
A molecular vibration occurs when
atoms in a molecule are in periodic motion
while the molecule as a whole has constant
translational and rotational motion.
SPECIFIC HEAT
capacity describes a willingness of the
substance to change its temperature the higher
the specific heat capacity is, the more willing
the substance is to change its temperature.
Specific heat capacity is a measurement of
how much heat has to be added to or released
from a substance to change its temperature.
 TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE OF HEAT
CAPACITY
Specific heat is another physical property of matter.
All matter has a temperature associated with it. The
temperature of matter is a direct measure of the motion of
the molecules: The greater the motion the higher the
temperature:

Motion requires energy: The more energy matter has

the higher temperature it will also have. Typicall this energy
is supplied by heat. Heat loss or gain by matter is equivalent
energy loss or gain.