Chapter 3 Vocabs – Flashcards
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Unlock answersBrownian motion |
the erratic, jerky movement of tiny particles suspended in a fluid caused by the random impacts of individual molecules in thermal motion. |
kinetic energy |
the energy of motion. |
temperature |
a measure of the average kinetic energy of atoms or molecules. |
random |
scattered equally among all possible choices with no organized pattern. |
Fahrenheit scale |
a temperature scale with 180 degrees between the freezing and boiling points of water; water freezes at 32°F and boils at 212°F. |
Celsius scale |
a temperature scale with 100 degrees between the freezing and boiling points of water; water freezes at 0°C and boils at 100°C. |
thermometer |
an instrument that measures temperature. |
thermistor |
an electronic sensor that measures temperature by detecting changes in electrical resistance. |
thermocouple |
an electronic sensor made of two different metals that detects a temperature-dependent voltage across them. |
absolute zero |
the lowest possible temperature, at which the energy of molecular motion is essentially zero, or as close to zero as allowed by quantum theory. |
Kelvin scale |
a temperature scale that starts at absolute zero and has the same unit intervals as the Celsius scale: TKelvin = TCelsius + 273. |
heat |
thermal energy, energy resulting from temperature; the total energy in random molecular motion contained in matter. |
joule |
the fundamental SI unit of energy (and heat). |
calorie |
an older unit of heat |
British thermal unit (BTU) |
a large unit of heat. |
second law of thermodynamics |
law of nature that states that energy (heat) spontaneously flows from higher temperature to lower temperature. |
system |
a group of interacting objects and effects that are selected for investigation. |
open system |
a system which can exchange matter and energy with the surroundings. |
closed system |
a system which can exchange only energy with the surroundings. |
isolated system |
a system in which neither matter nor energy can be exchanged with the surroundings. |
first law of thermodynamics |
law of nature that states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, and thus the total energy in an isolated system remains constant; all the energy lost by one system must be gained by the surroundings or another system. |
thermal equilibrium |
a condition where the temperatures are the same and heat no longer flows from one material to another. |
specific heat |
the quantity of energy, usually measured in J/(g·°C), it takes per gram of a certain material to raise the temperature by one degree Celsius. |
conduction: |
the flow of heat energy through the direct contact of matter. |
thermal conductor |
a material that conducts heat easily. |
thermal insulator |
a material that resists the flow of heat. |
phase change |
conversion of the organization of molecules in a substance without changing the individual molecules themselves, such as changing from solid to liquid or liquid to gas. |
melting point |
the temperature at which a substance changes phase from solid to liquid; for example, the melting point of water is 0°C. |
heat of vaporization |
the energy required to change the phase of one gram of a material from liquid to gas or gas to liquid at constant temperature and constant pressure at the boiling point. |
boiling point |
the temperature at which a substance changes phase from liquid to gas |
heat of fusion |
the energy required to change the phase of one gram of a material from liquid to solid or solid to liquid at constant temperature and constant pressure at the melting point. |
evaporation |
a phase change from liquid to gas at a temperature below the boiling point. |
condensation |
a phase change from gas to liquid; a substance in its gas phase may condense at a temperature below its boiling point. |
latent heat |
thermal energy that is absorbed or released by a phase change. |
triple point |
the temperature and pressure at which the solid, liquid, and gas phases of a substance can all exist in equilibrium together. |
relative humidity |
the actual partial pressure of water vapor in air divided by the saturation vapor pressure at the same temperature. |
dew point |
the temperature at which air is saturated with H2O vapor (Rh = 100%). |