Thermal physics explorer
Compare heat-transfer processes, then move to heating/cooling curves to interpret specific heat, latent heat, and state change.
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Learning goals
- Explain heating from higher to lower temperature until thermal equilibrium
- Describe conduction in solids through particle vibration and mobile electrons
- Describe convection in fluids through density changes and bulk motion
- Explain that energy transfer by electromagnetic radiation needs no material medium
- Explain how surface colour, texture, temperature and area affect radiation transfer rate
- Apply conduction, convection and radiation in everyday systems
- Describe internal energy as the total kinetic energy of the particles' random motion plus the total potential energy between them
- Apply energy transferred = mass × specific heat capacity × temperature change
- Describe melting, solidification, boiling and condensation as energy transfers without a change in temperature
- Apply energy transferred for a change of state = mass × specific latent heat
- Explain latent heat using particle behaviour
A 500 watt heater is heating 100 grams of ice that started at −20 degrees Celsius. It is now ice at −20.0 degrees Celsius after 0 kilojoules.
- Temperature
- −20.0 °C
- State
- ice
- Energy supplied, E = P t
- 0 kJ
- Dull black can
- — °C
- Shiny silver can
- — °C
Try this
0 of 4 doneHeat the ice until the water boils, and compare the two flat parts of the graph. (not done yet)
While ice melts or water boils, latent energy changes the arrangement and interparticle potential energy instead of raising temperature. Ice melting does not require increased particle separation. For the same mass of water, boiling takes far more energy than melting.
Record a cooling curve for stearic acid from above 72 °C to below 66 °C. (not done yet)
The flat part of your curve is the melting point, 69 °C: as the liquid solidifies it gives out latent heat, which balances the heat lost.
Find out which rod conducts heat best. (not done yet)
Copper's pins drop first. In metals, free electrons carry energy along the rod quickly; glass relies only on vibrating particles.
Compare how quickly the dull black and shiny silver cans warm up. (not done yet)
The dull black can warms faster: dull black surfaces are good absorbers (and good emitters) of infrared radiation; shiny surfaces reflect it.
You’ve tried every task.
Your readings
| # | t / min | θ / °C | Remove |
|---|---|---|---|
| No readings yet. Set up a measurement, then record it. | |||