| A | B |
|---|
| temperature | a measure of how hot (or cold) something is; specifically, a measure of the average kinetic energy in an object |
| thermal expansion | the increase in volume of a substance due to an increase in temperature |
| absolute zero | the lowest possible temperature (0K, -273C) |
| heat | the transfer of energy between objects that are at different temperatures; the amount of energy that is transferred between objects that are at different temperatures; energy is always transferred from higher-temperature objects to lower-temperature objects until thermal equilibrium is reached. |
| thermal energy | the total energy of the particles that make up an object. |
| conduction | the transfer of thermal energy from one substance to another through direct contact; conduction can also occur within a substance |
| conductor | a substance that conducts thermal energy very well. |
| insulator | a substance that does not conduct thermal energy very well. |
| convection | the transfer of thermal energy by the movement of a fluid (liquid or gas) |
| radiation | the transfer of energy through matter or space as electromagnetic waves, such as visible light and infrared waves |
| specific heat capacity | the amount of energy needed to change the temperature of 1 kg of a substance by 1degree Celcius; specific heat capacity is a characteristic property of a substance |
| states of matter | the physical forms in which a substance can exist |
| change of state | the conversion of a substance from one physical form to another |
| insulation | a substance that reduces the transfer of thermal energy |
| heat engine | a machine that uses heat to do work |
| thermal pollution | the excessive heating of a body of water |
