PHYS 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 29: Thermal Energy, Kinetic Energy, Chemical Energy
Document Summary
Almost every energy conversion that is made somehow results in some energy being converted to heat (or thermal energy). When a spring is compressed it heats up a little bit. When the chemical energy stored in gasoline is released in a car engine it produces heat. When a ball bounces on the ground the ground heats up a little. Motion or kinetic energy of the molecules in a substance. Two objects are able to exchange thermal energy. Two objects are in thermal contact and are at the same temperature (no energy exchange). The second law of thermodynamics: thermal energy flows spontaneously (without external assistance) from a higher-temperature object to a lower-temperature object. It will not spontaneously flow the other way. The flow of energy in an air conditioner is not spontaneous. You have to plug in an air conditioner. It takes e(cid:374)ergy to (cid:373)o(cid:448)e heat (cid:449)here it does(cid:374)"t (cid:449)a(cid:374)t to go (cid:271)y itself!
