Thermal Energy
kinetic energy - moving energy; motion (hot air mass has fast moving molecules and much kinetic energy)
potential energy - stored energy; energy of position (heavy water droplets in a cloud have the potential to fall)
thermal energy - the total potential and kinetic energy of the particles in an object;
(more kinetic energy of particles = more heat, less kinetic energy of particles = less heat)
radiation - transfer of thermal energy by electromagnetic waves through places with or without matter (examples: light bulb, campfire, fireplace, microwave, Sunlight traveling through space)
convection - transfer of thermal energy by liquids or gases (examples by liquids: hot at surface of a swimming pool, cup of soup, boiling water on stove) (examples by gases: hot air balloon, lower floors being cooler than top floors in a building)
convection current - a continual cycle of heat rising, cooling, sinking, and moving to replace rising heat. (examples by liquids: gulf stream, El Nino/La Nina) (examples by gases: jet stream, sea breeze, land breeze)
conduction - transfer of thermal energy between things that are touching (examples of conduction: touching the handle of a hot metal pot, electrical circuit, ice in water) (examples of insulation: rubber surrounding electrical wires, insulation inside walls)
conductor - matter through which energy flows easily (A metal pot was a good conductor of heat).
insulator - matter through which energy does not flow easily (The cooking mitt insulated her hand).
equilibrium (heat) - the balance between heat loss and heat gain (The hot bathwater cooled to room temperature).