Chapter 7 : Heat

7.1 Heat as a form of energy

A. The Sun as a Source of Heat

1. The sun is very hot object. It gets its heat energy from nuclear reactions taking place
in its centre.
2. The temperature at its centre is about 15 000 000 oC and its surface temperature is
between 10 000 oC and 500 000 oC. Earth receives heat energy and light energy from the
Sun.
3. Without heat energy from the Sun:-
a) The Earth will be a very cold place.
b) The Earth will be forever in darkness.
c) There will be no living things on the Earth.

SUN Heat and light

Energy

vacuum Earth

B. Heat as a form of energy

1. Properties of heat

Can travel through

vacuum

Is a form of energy
Causes things to
become hot

HEAT

Moves from hot place to

Has a different effect on a cooler place
different substances Measured in units
called joule (J)
 2. Examples : -
a) Heat causes metals to expand.
b) Heat causes air to expand.
c) Heat can cause a change of state e.g. ice to melt and water to boil.
d) Heat can cause a substance to decompose.

Mercury oxide mercury + oxygen

heat

C. Ways to produce heat

1. All forms of energy can be converted to heat energy as a result, heat can be produced in
many ways from different forms of energy e.g.

1. From kinetic energy 6. From chemical energy

- Rubbing hands together - Heat can be produced from
produce heat (friction chemical energy during a chemical
changes kinetic energy into Ways to produce reaction. E.g.
heat energy) i. When fuel burns.
heat
Carbon + Oxygen  carbon dioxide
+ energy (light +
2. From electrical energy
heat)
- Heat is produced whenever electrical
ii. During respiration
energy passes through a wire.
Glucose + oxygen  carbon dioxide
- A thin high resistance wire produces a
+water + heat
lot of heat when
` an electric current passes
energy
through it.
e.g. The filament in the bulb becomes
5. From nuclear energy
white hot and gives out light when an
- Tremendous amount of heat is
electric current passes through it.
produced when a nuclear explosion
takes place.
- Heat produced in a nuclear
reactor used to produce steam to
3. From solar energy drive turbines and generators for
- Solar cells are used to produce producing electricity.
electrical energy – used as heater.
4. From sound energy
-Heat is produced when sound energy
such as loud noise is absorbed by the
wall of a room.
 D. Uses of heat in daily life.

Use Explanation
For keeping warm In cold countries, electric radiators and coal fires are used to warm
houses.
For cooking Electric cookers, toasters and kettles are used to generate heat
for cooking.
For melting In factories, heat is used to melt iron for reshaping.
For moulding Heat is used to heat metals and plastics for moulding and reshaping.
For sterilizing Heat is used to boil water for sterilizing syringes, scissors, forceps
and containers in clinics.
For producing steam Heat is used to produce steam for driving turbines and engines.

E. Differences between temperature and heat.

Temperature
1. Temperature is a physical quantity which
refers to the degree of hotness or coldness of a
matter.
2. Measured by using thermometer and usually
measured in degree Celsius. (oC)
3. The temperature of an object rises when
heat is added to it, but falls when heat is
removed from it.
4. The more the energy contained in an object,
the higher the temperature of the object.
Heat
1. Heat is a form of energy.
2. It is measured in joule (J)
3. An object becomes hotter when heat is added to
it (temperature rises), and cooler when heat is
removed from it (temperature falls).
4. The amount of heat in an object depends on :
- its temperature.
- its mass (size) / volume
- its capacity to hold heat (different substances
have different capacities).

Two objects in a room have the same temperature (the room temperature) but
may contain different amounts of heat.
 Experiment 7.1 (Temperature and Heat)

Glass rod
Aim – To show that two objects, one big and one small
can have the same temperature but contain different
amounts of heat
Thread Boiling water
(100oC)
Variables:
Copper
sphere Copper sphere i. Constant: temperature of spheres (100oC), metal for
spheres (copper)
ii. Manipulated: size of spheres (different volumes)
iii. Responding: heat content in spheres.
Heat

Method:
1. Heat two copper spheres different sizes in boiling
water so that they both have the same
Thermometer temperature.
2. Then transfer each sphere into beaker containing
50cm3 of water at 30oC (room temperature.
50 cm3 3. Stir the water in the beaker with the thermometer
water at and record the highest temperature obtained.
30oC
(Beginning)
Observation:
The water with the bigger copper sphere has a bigger
rise in temperature than the water with the small
copper sphere.

Conclusion:
The bigger copper sphere contains more heat than the small copper.

Differences between heat and temperature. (Must memorize!!!)

Temperature Heat
1. A measure of the degree of hotness or 1. A form of energy.
coldness of an object.
2. Kelvin (K) is the S.I unit for temperature. 2. Joule(J) is the S.I unit for heat.
3. Increases with the increase in the 3. Travels from a hot area to a cold area.
movement of particles.
4. Temperature cannot do work. 4. Heat can do work.