PHYS 2C Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Latent Heat, Kelvin, Thermal Energy
Document Summary
Thermal energy: this is the total energy of all atoms and molecules in an object. All the energy stored in an object is its internal energy (u) Thermal energy + kinetic energy + potential energy= u. Metal feels colder than wood (even when they are at the same temperature) because metal is a good conductor for heat transfer. Fahrenheit is used in the us - 32 degree c--> Fahrenheit has 180 divisions (finer that celsius with the 100 scale) The triple point of water (joining of ice, gas, liquid) is 273. 16 k. Absolute zero = atoms don"t move at all = Water freezes at 273 k/ boils at 373 k. The lake has more thermal energy: the temperature is cold, but it has a much larger volume than the human. The lake would gain thermal energy from the person. Heat = q = flow of thermal energy between 2 objects = mode of transfer.
