TYPES OF ENERGY STORE - examples explained

(g) Thermal energy stores

Doc Brown's Physics Exam Revision Notes:  This page will help you answer questions such as ...  What is a thermal energy store?   Can you describe examples of a thermal energy store? How can you increase the thermal energy content of a thermal energy store?

Thermal energy and thermal energy stores

All objects above -273^oC (O K) have thermal energy, however low the temperature!

The hotter an object (the higher its temperature), the more thermal energy the material contains/holds/stores and all hot objects can release thermal energy to the cooler surroundings e.g. a radiator.

Thermal energy can only move from a higher temperature material to a lower temperature material - there must be a negative temperature gradient for a net flow of thermal energy.

Thermal energy is due to the vibration of atoms in solids or the kinetic energy of particle movement in liquids or gases.

Thermal energy - 'heat', is all about the kinetic energy of individual atoms or molecules.

Thermal energy from a thermal energy store can only flow from a higher temperature region to a lower temperature region i.e. from 'hotter' objects to 'cooler objects' whatever the medium of transfer i.e. it can be gaseous, liquid or solid materials.

Increasing an object's temperature increases its thermal energy store.

The increase in the thermal energy store is proportional to the rise in temperature.

See notes on specific heat capacity

Be able to describe and explain what a thermal energy store is and examples of thermal energy stores and energy store transfer can only take place from higher temperature material to lower temperature material (hotter to cooler regions in substances).

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