Heat Energy for Kids

All forms of matter contain heat energy. No matter if it is a volcano or an ice cube, all have some amount of heat. This heat energy can also be transferred from one substance to another; for example, when ice is melting, the heat energy from the ice cube is transferred to the surroundings, and thus the ice melts, or in the case of a volcano, the heat energy stored inside it in the form of lava is also transferred to its nearby surroundings when the volcano erupts. There is always a transfer of energy between substances.

There are three ways of transferring heat energy. The first is conduction, which occurs in fluids at rest, such as this metal bar. The second one is convection, in which molecules of fluid and air transfer heat. And the third form of heat transfer is radiation, which occurs without a material carrier. Here are only some of your choices for heating energy sources: natural gas, propane (LP), oil, coal, wood, electricity, heat pumps, ground source heat pumps and solar energy. Heat is measured in Celsius, Kelvin, or Fahrenheit.

Heat Energy

Heat Energy for Kids

Heat is defined as the flow of energy from an object at higher temperature to the object which is at lower temperature.In our day to day terms we refers heat to something which basically have higher temperature or warmer,but in real term heat is the flow of molecules from higher temperature region to lower temperature region due to this flow, the cooler part becomes hot because hot molecules transfer their heat energy to cold molecules.

Fire Produces Heat

Facts About Heat

• Two objects having less temperature can Create heat when they are rubbed together because the movement of molecules can create heat, so when we rub objects, molecules start moving, producing heat.

• When we use the air conditioner during hot days, these days seem hotter than actually they are. The same is the case for cold days when we use the heater during cold days, they seem colder than they actually are. So, due to use of these appliances our tolerance power decreases.

• Warm objects expand or become larger.

• Heat transfers from one object to another until both objects are at the same temperature.

Showing Objects Rub Together

Heat Information

Let’s have two bodies at different temperatures. Let the temperature of the first body is 100 degree Celsius and the temperature of another body is 40 degree Celsius. When these two bodies are brought together, the temperature of the body which is at 100 degree Celsius, will transfer to the body which is at 40 degree Celsius. This transfer of heat continues until both bodies attain equal temperatures. In simple words, when the temperature of both bodies becomes 70 degree Celsius they stop the transfer of heat.

Transfer of Heat From Hot object to Cold Object

Heat Science

In scientific terms, the study of heat is called thermodynamics. Above in this article, we already read that heat energy is produced due to the movement of molecules, and in terms of science, the energy produced by the movement of molecules is called kinetic energy. So, both heat energy and kinetic energy are related to each other hence we can say that heat in any object is due to the kinetic energy of the molecules of the object.

Heat Transfer

Conduction,Convection and Radiation

Transfer of heat can be through conduction,convection and radiation. Let’s discuss each:

• Conduction:

Conduction is the transfer of energy from one molecule to another by direct contact of objects eg: when one end of rod is heated and other end remains unheated then after a few minutes we find the temperature of the whole rod is the same,this is because of direct contact of molecules.

Conduction

• Convection:

Convection is the form of heat transfer by the fluid, e.g. when water is heated, some molecules of water which are present at the bottom can be heated and molecules at the top remain unheated. So, these heated molecules transfer their heat energy to the unheated molecules.

Convection

• Radiation:

Radiation is the form of heat which is transmitted in the form of rays and waves, e.g.: heat from the sun which heats the earth's surface.

Radiation

Solved Examples

Q1. What is the biggest and the primary source of heat energy?

Ans. The sun is the biggest and the primary source of heat energy.

Q2. Why heat transfer?

Ans. Heat transfer due to the movement of molecules.

Summary 

In this article we learned that all matter contains heat energy. Heat energy is the result of the movement of tiny particles called atoms, molecules or ions in solids, liquids and gases. Heat energy is defined as flow of energy from hot object to cold object. Heat can be transferred through different processes called convection, conduction, and radiation.