Name: ________________________ Class: ___________________ Date: __________
Thermal Energy Unit Study Guide
Completion Complete each statement.
1. Density is a measure of how much mass is contained in a given ____________________.
2. Temperature is measured using a(n) ____________________.
3. The kelvin is the official SI unit for ____________________.
4. If two glasses of water are at the same temperature, the average ____________________ energy of the
particles of water in each glass is the same.
5. A one-degree change in temperature on the Celsius temperature scale is equal to a one-unit temperature
change on the ____________________ temperature scale
6. An increase in the total energy of the particles in a substance results in an increase in the
____________________ energy of the substance.
7. Even though the water in a filled bathtub may be at the same temperature as water in a teacup, the
water in the bathtub has more ____________________ because it contains a greater number of water
molecules.
8. If ____________________ is transferred from object A to object B, the temperature of object A
decreases.
9. The handle of a spoon in a bowl of soup becomes warm due to heat transfer by the process of
____________________.
10. The sun transfers thermal energy by the process of ____________________.
11. Fiberglass is a common ____________________, which is a material that reduces the transfer of heat.
12. Bare feet feel colder on a tile floor than on a rug because the tile floor is a better
____________________ of heat.
13. When something becomes cold, ____________________ is removed from it.
14. A thermometer uses the fact that liquids, such as mercury and alcohol, ____________________ when
heated.
15. The bimetallic strip in a thermostat bends as it is heated because the two metals in the strip
____________________ at different rates.
16. When the thermal energy of a material decreases, its temperature_________________.
17. Similar to a refrigerator, a(n) ____________________ transfers thermal energy from inside a room to
the outdoors.
Name: ________________________ Class: ___________________ Date: __________
Short Answer
Use the graph to answer each question.
18. On which axis is volume shown?
19.On which axis is time shown?
20.What is the point where the x-axis and y-axis cross called?
21.What is each individual point called?
22.What type of line is shown?
23.Why is it preferable to draw a line of best fit rather than to connect the dots?
Name: ________________________ Class: ___________________ Date: __________
Use the diagram to answer each question.
24. For what purpose is this type of window used?
25.What physical process is reduced by the device shown?
26. What purpose do you think the air space serves?
27. Why do you think the device shown contains an air space?
28. The outside of some windows are covered with a thin shiny metallic coating. What type of heat
transfer does the coating reduce? Explain.
29. Many older windows have only a single pane. Why do these windows not insulate very well?
Name: ________________________ Class: ___________________ Date: __________
Essay
Use the diagram to answer each question.
30. What states of matter of a pure substance are represented in the graph?
31. What happens to each of the variables—temperature and thermal energy—during the changes
indicated by line segments A and B?
32.Suppose the material is being heated. What change of state is represented by line segment A?
33. Suppose the material is being cooled. What change of state is represented by line segment A?
34. What is the temperature of the change of state represented by line segment A called?
35. What is happening to the average kinetic energy of the particles during the change of state
represented by line segment B? Explain.
36. What is density? How is it calculated?
37. Which is a larger change in temperature: a change of 1 Celsius degree or 1 Fahrenheit degree?
Explain.
38. Explain the role of density in the formation of convection currents.
39. What is the difference between thermal energy and heat?
40. In hot and dry climates, fountains of gently dripping water are often used to cool courtyards. Explain
how.
41. Describe how a thermometer works.
42. Why can steam at 100°C cause more severe burns than the same mass of liquid water at 100°C?