| A | B |
| temperature | a measure of how hot (or cold) something is; specifically, a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in an object |
| thermal expansion | the increase in volume of a substance due to an increase in temperature |
| absolute zero | the lowest possible temperature |
| heat | the transfer of energy between objects that are different temperatures |
| 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 |
| 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 liquid or a gas |
| radiation | the transfer of energy through matter or space as electromagnetic waves |
| specific heat capacity | the amount of energy needed to change the temperature of 1 kg of a substance by 1 degree Celsius |
| 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 |
| combustion | the burning of fuel |