Temperature—related to the average kinetic energy object’s atoms or molecules

Thermal Energy—the sum of the kinetic and potential energy of all the atoms in an object

·      Thermal energy increases as temperature increases

·      At constant temperature, thermal energy increases if mass increases

Heat—Thermal energy that flows from something at a higher temperature to something at a lower temperature.

Specific Heat—amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1kg of a material by 1 degree (C or K)

·      Equation for change in thermal energy

Q = heat (or change in thermal energy)

C = specific heat

m = mass

ΔT = change in temperature

·      When heat flows into an object, its temperature rises   (ΔT is +)

·      When heat flows out of an object, its temperature decreases (ΔT is -)

·      A calorimeter is used to measure heat

o    calor = heat

o    meter = measure