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Lesson 4 of 8
New
New
- Year 7
Cooling
I can describe and explain what happens to very hot water as it cools.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The higher the temperature of a hot drink, the faster its particles are moving.
- A hot drink makes the particles in the air around it move more quickly.
- The particles of a hot drink begin to move less quickly as they transfer energy to the air particles.
- The greater the temperature difference between a hot drink and the air, the faster it cools down.
Keywords
Surroundings - the space around an object
Cooling rate - how quickly the temperature of an object falls
Cooling curve - a line graph that shows how a cooling object’s temperature changes with time
Energy - a solid object has energy in its thermal store because its particles are vibrating
Dissipate - to spread out
Common misconception
The energy of hot objects disappears (is destroyed) as they cool.
Placing a cup of hot water into a surrounding bowl of cold water that is warmed without the waters mixing demonstrates how surroundings are heated as energy is dissipated.
A data logger can be used to measure a cooling curve of hot water, with a graph projected onto a screen shown in real time (or over the course of a whole lesson).
Teacher tip
Equipment
Kettle, beaker, thermometer, clamp and stand, timer.
Content guidance
- Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In a piece of pure copper, what is there in the tiny gaps between particles of copper?
In a piece of pure copper, what is there in the tiny gaps between particles of copper?
air
liquid copper
solid copper
Q2.Starting with the slowest, sort the following states of matter of water in order of increasing speed of the particles of water in each.
Starting with the slowest, sort the following states of matter of water in order of increasing speed of the particles of water in each.
Q3.Which of the following options help to prevent a thermometer falling onto the floor between measurements in an investigation?
Which of the following options help to prevent a thermometer falling onto the floor between measurements in an investigation?
Resting it against the side of a beaker.
Q4.Starting with the weakest, sort the following states of matter of iron in order of increasing strength of the force holding particles together.
Starting with the weakest, sort the following states of matter of iron in order of increasing strength of the force holding particles together.
Q5.What is the approximate temperature of a classroom?
What is the approximate temperature of a classroom?
10°C
30°C
40°C
Q6.Match each of the following examples to the correct temperature.
Match each of the following examples to the correct temperature.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.When boiling water is poured from a kettle into a mug, why is the temperature of the water in the mug always less than 100°C?
When boiling water is poured from a kettle into a mug, why is the temperature of the water in the mug always less than 100°C?
The mug does not have a lid.
The mug does not have a heating element.
There is less water in the mug than the kettle.
Q2.Which of the following describes a cooling rate?
Which of the following describes a cooling rate?
Increase in temperature in one hour.
Decrease in temperature from start to finish.
Increase in temperature from start to finish.
Q3.A cooling curve shows how a cooling object's temperature changes with .
A cooling curve shows how a cooling object's temperature changes with .
Q4.What does a steeper line on a cooling curve tell you about how quickly the temperature of a substance is falling?
What does a steeper line on a cooling curve tell you about how quickly the temperature of a substance is falling?
The steeper the line, the slower the temperature is falling.
The steepness of the line does not show how quickly the temperature is falling.
Q5.Raising the temperature of water increases the amount of __________ it has.
Raising the temperature of water increases the amount of __________ it has.
heat
particles
power
Q6.When an object cools down, its energy is into the surroundings.
When an object cools down, its energy is into the surroundings.
