something that happens or is chosen without any specific pattern, reason, or plan, like whether a coin flip will land heads up or tails up

the energy a substance stores because of the random motion of its particles

Energy and temperature

Science

In the Particle explanations of density and pressure unit, they will build on this knowledge to learn how the arrangement and movement of particles in solids, liquids and gases explain density, pressure, floating and convection.

In the Solids, liquids, gases and changes of state unit, pupils learnt to categorise solids, liquids and gases, how the particles are arranged and moving in each state and what happens to particles during a change of state.

This unit explains energy transfer between objects due to temperature differences, through conduction or radiation, the role of insulators, and thermal equilibrium. It covers particle arrangements and motions in solids, liquids, and gases and Brownian motion.

Heating and cooling

In which state(s) of matter do particles move around in random directions?

What happens to particles of a gas if you decrease their temperature?

Put the following in order of how much energy they have in the thermal store, starting with the least energy.

it is transferred to cooler objects in contact with it

What happens to the energy a hot water bottle has in the thermal store as it cools down throughout the night?

one teaspoon of water taken from a small cup of hot water at 75°C

one teaspoon of water taken from a full kettle of water at 75°C

two teaspoons of water taken from a large cup of hot water at 75°C

two teaspoons of water taken from a bath full of water at 45°C

Which of these samples of water has the most energy in the thermal store?

What property do objects have if they have energy in the gravitational store?

What property do objects have if they have energy in the chemical store?

The ice cube has more energy in the thermal store than the water.

The water has more energy in the thermal store than the ice cube.

They both have the same amount of energy in their thermal store.

The ice cube has some energy in the thermal store.

The ice cube has zero energy in the thermal store.

Compare the energy in the thermal store of an ice cube and the equivalent volume of water at room temperature. Which statements are correct?

Which of these cause the energy in the chemical store to increase? 

What happens to the particles a gas is made of when it is heated to a higher temperature?

they vibrate backwards and forwards less quickly

they vibrate in random directions less quickly

they vibrate backwards and forwards more quickly

they vibrate in random directions more quickly

What happens to the particles a solid is made of when it is cooled down to a lower temperature?

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Energy and temperature

Lesson outcome

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.