Thermal Energy & Particle Motion

Performance Expectation

MS-PS3-4: Plan an investigation to determine the relationships among the energy transferred, the type of matter, the mass, and the change in the average kinetic

In Student-Friendly Words...

I can investigate how adding or removing thermal energy affects the movement of particles in different materials.

Big Ideas

Adding thermal energy causes particles to move faster.
Removing thermal energy causes particles to move slower.
Different materials heat up and cool down at different rates.
The amount of matter affects how much thermal energy is needed to change its temperature.

Interactive Learning

Heating Ice Lab

Convection

Convection in the Room: Air Conditioners & Stove

Heat Conduction

Watch & Learn

Heat & Thermal Energy

Khan Academy: Thermal energy, temperature, and heat

Adding and removing thermal energy

Real-World Connections

Cooking

When you heat food, its particles gain kinetic energy and move faster, which can cause changes in temperature and state.

Hot & Cold Drinks

A hot drink cools because thermal energy is transferred to the cooler surroundings, changing the motion of its particles.

Different Materials

A metal spoon can feel much hotter than a wooden spoon in the same room because the materials respond differently to thermal energy transfer.

Heating Your Home

Understanding how particles respond to thermal energy helps engineers design heating and cooling systems that keep buildings comfortable.

Take It Further

Particles in Motion

Add a drop of food coloring to three clear glasses of water: one cold, one warm, and one hot. Without stirring, observe how quickly the food coloring spreads through each glass. Compare the results and think about how the temperature of the water affects the motion of the particles.

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