Station 1
A.) Describe the difference between thermal energy and
temperature. Thermal energy is the sum of the potential and
kinetic energy of all of the particles in a substance. Temperature is
the average of the kinetic energy of all of the particles in a
substance. Thermal energy takes into account the mass of the
object.
B.) Which would have more thermal energy: The ocean or a 500ml
beaker full of boiling water. Explain. The ocean would because it
has a higher mass.
C.) What is the symbol for thermal energy? Q
D.) What is the symbol for temperature? T
E.) What is the symbol for specific heat? C
Station 2
A.) You are holding a glass of ice-cold lemonade. Explain, using the
concept of heat and thermal energy, why the glass feels cold?
The glass feels cold because you are losing your thermal energy to
it. Thermal Energy or Heat travels from warmer temperatures to
colder temperatures.
B.) In the Amazing blocks (two black squares), why did the ice melt
faster on the aluminum square verses the wooden square? The
squares were both room temperature. Because the ice was colder
than the blocks. The aluminum square was a better conductor so
the heat left it quicker.
C.) What type of thermal energy transfer was occurring? Conduction
Station 3
A.)
What is specific heat? The amount of thermal energy required to
raise the temperature of a certain amount of a substance a
certain temperature. (1J/1Kg1ºC)
B.)
Calculate the specific heat of a 100g mass that increases its
temperature by 20ºC after 770J of thermal energy are added to
it. C = Q/mΔT 770J/(100g x 20ºC) = .385 J/gºC OR 385J/KgºC
Station 4
A.)
Calculate the thermal energy (in BTUs) of a 2kg beaker of
water whose temperature increased from 22ºC to 32ºC. The
specific heat of water is 4186J/kg˚C
Q = mcΔT  2kg x 4186J x 10°C = 83720J
83720J x (1BTU/1055J) = 79.36 BTU
B.)
If that beaker then had another 5000 J of thermal energy added
to it, calculate what its final temperature would be in ºF .
Tf = Ti + ΔT AND ΔT = (Q/mC) so …
5000J/(2kg x 4186J/kgºC) = 0.60 ºC
32ºC + 0.6ºC = 32.6ºC
Station 5
A.)
Observe the temperatures of the two thermometers. Explain
why the temperature of the water in the glass cup is different
than the temperature of the Styrofoam cup. The glass cup is a
better conductor.
B.)
Explain how we can put hot chocolate in a metal thermos
without burning our hands. There is a space in between the
inside metal and outside metal in the thermos acting like an
insulator.
C.)
Predict: What might happen if you placed the metal cup inside
a Styrofoam cup. It would be insulated and not cool down as fast.
Station 6
A.)
Observe the following graph. Which substance had the
greatest increase in temperature? Substance 2
Effect of Thermal Energy on
Temperature
20
15
Temperature
10
(ºC)
Substance 1
5
Substance 2
0
1
B.)
2
3
4 5 6 7
Time (min)
8
9 10
Substance 1 and 2 both had a mass of 100g. If both substances
had equal amounts of thermal energy added to them, explain
why the substances had a different increase in temperature.
The specific heat of substance 1 was greater. This means it
requires more thermal energy to increase its temperature.
Station 7
A.)
Calculate the thermal energy of a 250g beaker of water that
cools from 80˚C to 40˚C. The specific heat of water is
4.186J/g˚C.
Q = mcΔT
.25kg x 4186j/kgºC x (-40ºC) = -41860J of heat
B.)
How many Calories (Kcal) were used to heat up that same
water from 40ºC to 50ºC. Assume the mass of the water is still
250g and none was lost due to evaporation.
Q = mcΔT
.25kg x 4186j/kgºC x (10ºC) = 10465 J x 1 kcal/4184J = 2.5 kCal
Station 8
A.)
One 100g metal was placed in a boiling water bath for 30
minutes. Afterwards it were removed and placed in a beakers
with 50ml (50g of water). Calculate the specific heat of the
metal using the information provided below.
Initial Temperature
Final Temperature
Water in the
Beaker
22ºC
36.3
c=Q/(mΔT) The Heat gained by the water was lost by the metal, so
lets solve for the Q lost by the water first.
Q = mcΔT  50g x 4.186J/g°C x 14.3ºC = 2.992.99J
Now the heat lost from the metal would be negative, so the Q for
the metal would be -2.992.99J. The initial heat of the metal
should be 100ºC, similar to that of the boiling water. It’s final
temperature was 36.3, so its change in temp was -63.7ºC.
c=Q/(mΔT)  -2.992.99J/(50g x -63.7ºC.) =
.940 J/gºC or 940 J/kgºC
B.)
What improvements could be made to this experiment to
eliminate any errors? Placing the beakers in an insulated
calorimeter. This will keep thermal energy from escaping.
C.)
Suggest a further investigation that could be made.
Try it with a different metal and compare the results.
Station 9
A.)
Observe the motion of the pepper flakes in the beaker.
Describe what type of thermal energy transfer is occurring.
Convection
B.)
What is the boiling point of water in ºC? 100
C.)
If the initial temperature of the water was 22ºC, Calculate the
amount of thermal energy required to enable the water to boil.
DO NOT REMOVE THE BEAKER FROM THE HOT PLATE. IT IS
MOST LIKELY HOT AND WILL BURN YOU!
(1ml of water = 1g of water.) Record the volume to help
determine the waters mass.
Q = mcΔt It depends on the amount of water that you observed
in the beaker. Some evaporated. If it was 500ml (.5kg) of water
then it would 163254 Joule of thermal energy.
.5kg x 4186 J/kg°C x 78°C = 163254J of thermal energy
Station 10
A.)
Observe the thermometers under the light and the one not
underneath the light? Diagram the setup.
B.)
Predict: Why do the thermometers read different
temperatures? Because the black paper absorbs more thermal
energy than the white or aluminum do.
C.)
What type of thermal energy transfer is occurring?
Radiant
Station 11
A.)
Observe the wax on the end of each metal rod. Diagram the
setup.
B.)
What causes some of the wax to melt faster than other types of
wax? Conduction
C.)
What type of thermal energy transfer is occurring?
Conduction – metal rods transferring heat to the wax
Convection – warm air heating the rods
Radiation – Candle’s flame.
Station 12
A.)
Observe the spiral when the Bunsen burner is lit underneath it.
What type of thermal energy transfer is causing it to spin?
Convection
B.)
Describe how this relates to the Gulf Stream Current? The
reason the Gulf stream current is occurring is due to the
convection cycles of the water.
C.)
Predict: How could an increased greenhouse effect impact our
current weather patterns? It may interfere with the current
convection cycles of air and water that are occurring. This
would change wind patterns as well as water currents.