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Lesson One: Introduction to Heat and Temperature
Lesson One: Introduction to Heat and Temperature
Today I am… learning about temperature and temperature scales
So I can… understand how to use a thermometer to measure temperature
I’ll know I have it when… I can explain why it is important to be able to measure and estimate temperature
The estimated time to complete this lesson is 1 hour
By the end of the lesson...
By the end of the lesson...
You should be able to answer these questions:
What is the difference between temperature and heat?
Why is it important to be able to estimate and measure temperature?
What are three temperature scales that are used?
How do you read a liquid thermometer?
Temperature and Heat
Temperature and Heat
Questions to consider:
What do you think of when you hear these words?
What images come to mind?
Where have you heard these words being used?
Write down or draw a few of your answers
What is the Temperature?
What is the Temperature?
What is the temperature in these pictures?
Why do you think it is that temperature?
Can you explain temperature without using numbers?
Write down your answers
Stop and Think
Stop and Think
Can we see heat?
How do we know when something is hot or cold?
How do we sense and measure temperature?
How reliable is our sense of temperature?
How reliable is our sense of temperature?
Our hands are one of the most common ways that we sense temperature. They help us to know if something is hot or cold. But how reliable is our sense of temperature?
Will the same object always 'feel' like the same temperature?
What if we have been outside during the winter without gloves or what if we were just sitting by a campfire?
Using your hands and different temperatures of water (warm, cold, room temperature), how could you design an experiment to determine the reliability of your sense of temperature? Make sure to write down your predictions before you start. When designing an experiment, make sure that it can be repeated by other people! Get your family, friends or neighbours to try your experiment to see their results.
Go to the resources section and find the "How reliable is our sense of touch experiment" to help you design your experiment!
Temperature vs. Heat
Temperature vs. Heat
Temperature and heat are not the same but they are related to each other.
Temperature is how hot or cold an object is. Specifically, it is the measure of the average motion of particles within an object.
Heat is a form of energy that is transferred between objects.
We will talk more about heat and temperature in later lessons!
Identifying Temperatures
Identifying Temperatures
We have learned that we use our sense of touch to determine the temperature of objects in our everyday lives. However, sometimes we cannot touch objects to estimate their temperatures because they are too hot, too cold or too far away.
This time, you are going to test how well you can estimate temperature. You will be examining the different images below and will write every item into one of the columns in the table on the right. Arrange the items from lowest to highest and estimate the temperature of each of the images.
Questions to think about:
What temperature was the easiest to estimate? Why?
What temperature was the hardest to estimate? Why?
As a bonus, try to find the exact temperature of each of these items!
This should only take you about twenty minutes.
1. Ice Cream
2. Bath Water
3. The Sun
4. Inside of a Fridge
5. Coffee
6. Inside of an Oven
7. Snow
8. Room Temperature
9. Boiling Water
10. Human Body
11. Ocean
12. Fire
Why should we estimate temperature?
Why should we estimate temperature?
What are some of the reasons or examples why it is a good idea to be able to estimate temperature? Keep in mind that an estimate means that you are close to the true value!
To help get you started, think about the questions below:
How can estimating temperature help us in Canada?
How can estimating temperature help you in the different seasons?
How can estimating temperature help to keep us safe?
Temperature Scales
Temperature Scales
Sometimes it is important that we know the exact temperature, not an estimate.
What are some examples when it is important to know the exact temperature?
How can we measure temperature so we know we have the right number?
Are there any exact temperatures you know?
Celsius
Celsius
It was invented by a Swedish physicist named Anders Celsius
He found that the freezing point of water was always 0 and the boiling point was always 100
He divided the scale into 100 equal parts
He calibrated the thermometer so that the values of 0 and 100 are used by everyone
This is the temperature scale that we use in Canada
Fahrenheit
Fahrenheit
It was invented by a Polish physicist named Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit
He also invented the alcohol and mercury thermometers in the early 1700’s
In the Fahrenheit scale freezing point is 32 and the boiling point is 212
He divided the scale into 180 equal parts
This is the temperature scale used in the United States
Kelvin
Kelvin
It was invented by an Irish engineer named Sir William Thomson (Lord Kelvin)
It uses 0 as absolute zero which is the coldest temperature on earth
This is equal to -273 degrees Celsius
How to read a liquid thermometer
How to read a liquid thermometer
When we read a thermometer we want our eye to be at the same level as the alcohol.
If you have a thermometer at home, take various temperatures around your house. If you do not have a thermometer, think about where a thermometer should be in your home.
Try to complete the temperature scavenger hunt activity located in the resources section!
Before you go...
Before you go...
Make sure you can answer these questions so you know you have a good understanding of the material! Try to answer these questions before moving onto the next lesson:
What is the difference between temperature and heat?
Why is it important to be able to estimate and measure temperature?
What are some temperature scales used around the world?
How do you read a thermometer?
Take the quiz to make sure you're on the right track!
References
References
Nelson Thomas Learning. (1999). Nelson Science & Technology 7.
Encyclopedia Britannica. (n.d). Anders Celsius. Retrieved on April 6, 2020 from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Anders-Celsius
Encyclopedia Britannica. (n.d). Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit. Retrieved on April 6, 2020 from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Daniel-Gabriel-Fahrenheit
Encyclopedia Britannica. (n.d). William Thomson, Baron Kelvin. Retrieved on April 6, 2020 from https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-Thomson-Baron-Kelvin
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