Heat How Does the Study of Heat

Heat How does the study of heat relate to the kinetic theory of matter? There is a close relationship between the study of heat and the kinetic theory of matter. It is significant therefore to first understand the principles behind the kinetic theory of matter. This theory seeks to explain the differences that exist between the three different states of matter. It indicates that, matter is made up of particles that are constantly moving known as the atoms or the molecules (Benjamin Crowell, 2009).

The temperature that the object is at will dictate the state that the matter will be at. According to the kinetic theory, solids have their particles tightly bound to each other that even though they can vibrate, they cannot move to another location. Here the particles have very low kinetic energy and the particles of that particular solid are held together by the existing intermolecular forces of attraction, and due to the close proximity between the particles, they vibrate around a fixed point.

If the temperature of a solid is raised, it then follows that the velocity of the particles in that solid will increase making the collisions between the particles more rampant hence the particles move farther apart than before the heating. This may result in significant alteration of the arrangement of the particles hence physical change of the state due to the breakdown of the solid.

In liquids it is noted that the particles have sufficient kinetic energy to stretch the intermolecular forces of attraction or enough space to move about, though they still attract one another. In this state, the intermolecular collisions are strong enough to force the particles apart and they appear to have a moving vibration, however the particles still remain under the control of the intermolecular forces of attraction.

The velocity of the particles can however increase with the rising temperature, the temperature rise may cause the collisions to be so great that the intermolecular forces of attraction are broken and the particles begin to move independent of each other upon each collision. At this stage a change of physical state may occur. At the gaseous state, the substance has particles that have enough kinetic energy to break the intermolecular forces of attraction, here the particles move independent of each other.

There is a random movement of the particles since they have broken and overcome any intermolecular forces of attraction. If the temperature of the gas is raised hence inducing more kinetic energy into the molecules, the collisions may break up the atoms hence producing the electrons and consequently changing the state of the matter.

From the above explanations, it is apparent that there is a close relationship between the study of heat and the kinetic theory of matter since it is the presence of heat that dictates the amount of kinetic energy in a matter hence dictating the state of the matter. What is heat? As already noted above, matter has atoms that are constantly moving and bumping into each other as well as vibrating back and forth.

This vibration will therefore create a given form of energy referred to as heat or thermal energy. This heat energy is present in each and every matter regardless of the temperatures, even in the coldest places or state, there is still some measurable heat energy. Heat is therefore a form of energy that emanates from the collisions that are experienced between the molecules of matter (The University of Waikato, 2012). It is worth noting that energy can take on various forms changing from one form to another.

Different forms of energy can be changed to heat energy by increasing the velocity of the molecules therein. What is temperature? It is now known that each object has some kinetic energy in it. Temperature therefore, if measured in Kelvin degree, is the number that is proportional to the average kinetic energy of the molecules found in a substance. It is important to note that temperature is not the kinetic energy since temperature is not energy.

But just a number that relates to the amount of energy possessed by molecules in a substance (Temperatures.com, 2009). What is the relationship between heat and temperature? There are two major relationships that exist between heat and temperature. One significant one is that when heat energy goes into a substance, then that substance is bound to experience and increase in temperature. The added heat is realized as an increased kinetic energy in the molecules of the matter.

The second significant relationship is that when heat energy goes into an object, there is a likelihood of change in the state of the matter. For the solid lie ice, the increase in the heat energy will increase the temperature to the point when the solid starts turning to liquid (Gavin Sulivan & Campbell Edmondson, 2008).

How are they different? The basic difference between heat and temperature is that heat is a form of energy while temperature is not a form of energy by a unit to measure the amount of heat energy produced by the collisions between the molecules of matter. It is also worth noting that the increase in the amount of energy can remain consistent as matter changes from one state to another to facilitate this change (also known as latent heat) yet temperature will have to stop increasing (changing).

What are the various properties of a substance that determine its heat capacity? There are three main properties of a substance that will determine the heat capacity of that particular objet; the chemical composition, the temperature and the pressure of a substance. It is noted that anything which has the capacity to alter the distribution of energy within a given matter can consequently change the heat capacity of that matter.

The presence of pressure pushes the molecules much closer together, this means the molecules will be colliding against each other more often and at higher velocity hence the increase in the energy generated. The composition of a matter can also change the energy state of that matter. Molecules do differ on the electrical charges, size.