Here you will find a list of terms and definitions that have been mentioned throughout the eight lessons. This is to act as a reference and a guide to make sure that you are familiar with and can understand the new terms introduced. One way that you can check if you understand the meaning of a term, is to write a definition in your own words.
Heat:
a form of energy that is transferred between objects
heat always travels from an object with low heat energy to objects with high heat energy
Temperature:
how hot or cold an object is
the measure of the average motion of particles within an object
Thermometer:
a type of technology that allows us to measure the temperature of an object or the temperature of our surroundings
Calibrate:
to mark an instrument with a standard scale of measurements
Celsius and Fahrenheit did this when they created their thermometers
standard markings allow everyone to use an instrument the same way and get the same temperatures
Particle Theory:
this is a set of five points that help us to understand how matter behaves
Particles/Atoms:
particles and atoms are two different words that mean the same thing
they are the smallest thing that scientists have discovered so far
they make up matter (which is everything)
Kinetic Energy:
this is the energy that particles have
remember, even though we cannot see it, particles are moving all the time
when particles move faster, they have more kinetic energy
when particles move slower, they have less kinetic energy
Expansion:
this is when an object gets bigger
it does this because the particles have gained energy, so they move faster and take up more space
remember: the particles are not getting bigger, the space between the particles is getting bigger
Contraction:
this is when an object gets smaller
it does this because the particles have lost energy, so they move slower and take up less space
remember: the particles are not getting smaller, the space between the particles is getting smaller
Fusion:
this is when a solid changes into a liquid
Solidification:
this is when a liquid changes into a solid
Evaporation:
this is when a liquid changes into a gas
Condensation:
this is when a gas changes into a liquid
Sublimation:
this is when a solid changes into a gas OR a gas changes into a solid
this happens without changing into a liquid
Plateau:
this is a flat part of a graph
on a heating curve this represents when matter is melting or boiling
Heat Transfer:
this is when heat moves from an object with a high heat energy to an object with a low heat energy
Conduction:
this is transfer of heat energy by direct contact of solids
Conductor:
these objects all heat to flow through them very well
Convection:
this is the transfer of heat in fluids (gases or liquids)
Radiation:
this is the transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves
this type of heat transfer does not need matter like the other two
this is why the heat from the sun can travel through space to earth
Percussion:
this is when you hit an object with another object
Compression:
this is when you squeeze an object
Distortion:
this is when you twist or bend an object
Friction:
this is when you rub two objects together
Insulator:
this does not let heat flow through very well
Heat capacity:
a measure of how much heat is needed to raise the temperature of a substance
AND
a measure of how much heat the substance releases as it cools
High heat capacity:
substances with a high heat capacity take longer to heat up and longer to cool down
Low heat capacity:
substances with a low heat capacity take a shorter time to heat up and a short time to cool down