Thermal Energy Transfer (Cambridge (CIE) A Level Physics): Revision Note

Thermal energy transfer

• Thermal energy is transferred from a region of higher temperature to a region of lower temperature

  • The conservation of energy states that energy is never created or destroyed, only transferred from one form to another

  • Temperature tells us the direction of energy flow when two regions are in contact (from hotter to cooler)

• When a thermometer is placed in a beaker of boiling water

  • The thermometer reading increases because the thermometer is a lot cooler than the water

  • The thermometer gradually becomes hotter from the thermal energy (or heat) transferring from the water to the thermometer

• Thermal energy is defined as:

  The energy possessed by an object due to its temperature.

• Energy will continue to be transferred until both the thermometer and the water are the same temperature

Thermal energy transfer from hot coffee in a mug

Thermal energy is transferred from the hot coffee to the mug and to the cold hands

• Thermal energy is transferred by either conduction, convection or radiation