Physical Science

2nd law of thermodynamics

The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that the state of entropy of the entire universe, as a closed isolated system, will always increase over time. The second law also states that the changes in the entropy in the universe can never be negative.

boiling point of water

212 degrees F or 100 degrees C

0 degrees F

-17.78 degrees C

absolute zero

-273.15 degrees C or OK

-40 degrees C

-40 degrees C

freezing point of water

273.15Kelivn(K),0 degrees C, 32 degrees F

normal body temperature

37 degrees C

filament in a light bulb

4000K

surface temperature of the sun

5800 K

absolute zero

By international agreement, absolute zero is defined as precisely; 0 K on the Kelvin scale, which is a thermodynamic (absolute) temperature scale; and -273.15 degrees Celsius on the Celsius scale.

calorimeter

Calorimetry is the measurement of the quantity of heat exchanged. For example, if the energy from an exothermic chemical reaction is absorbed in a container of water, the change in temperature of the water provides a measure of the amount of heat added.

conduction

Conduction is the process by which heat energy is transmitted through collisions between neighboring molecules.

convection

Convection is heat transfer by mass motion of a fluid such as air or water when the heated fluid is caused to move away from the source of heat, carrying energy with it.

evaporation

Evaporation is a type of vaporization of a liquid that occurs from the surface of a liquid into a gaseous phase that is not saturated with the evaporating substance. The other type of vaporization is boiling, which is characterized by bubbles of saturated vapor forming in the liquid phase.

heat energy

Heat is a form of energy that can be transferred from one object to another or even created at the expense of the loss of other forms of energy. To review, temperature is a measure of the ability of a substance, or more generally of any physical system, to transfer heat energy to another physical system.

thermal conductors

In physics, thermal conductivity (often denoted k, λ, or κ) is the property of a material to conduct heat. It is evaluated primarily in terms of Fourier's Law for heat conduction. Heat transfer occurs at a higher rate across materials of high thermal conductivity than across materials of low thermal conductivity.

latent point

Latent heat is energy released or absorbed, by a body or a thermodynamic system, during a constant-temperature process. An example is a state of matter change, meaning a phase transition, such as ice melting or water boiling

thermal contraction

Materials expand or contract when subjected to changes in temperature. Most materials expand when they are heated, and contract when they are cooled. When free to deform, concrete will expand or contract due to fluctuations in temperature.

radiation

Radiation is energy that comes from a source and travels through some material or through space

sublimation

Sublimation is the transition of a substance directly from the solid to the gas phase without passing through the intermediate liquid phase. Sublimation is an endothermic phase transition that occurs at temperatures and pressures below a substance's triple point in its phase diagram.

1st law of thermodynamics

The first law of thermodynamics is a version of the law of conservation of energy, adapted for thermodynamic systems. The law of conservation of energy states that the total energy of an isolated system is constant; energy can be transformed from one form to another, but cannot be created or destroyed.

specific heat

The specific heat is the amount of heat per unit mass required to raise the temperature by one degree Celsius.

3rd law of thermodynamics

The third law of thermodynamics states that as the temperature approaches absolute zero (0 K), the entropy of a system approaches a constant (and minimum) value. The entropy of a perfect crystalline state is zero at 0 K.

thermal energy

Thermal energy is the energy a substance or system has related to its temperature, i.e., the energy of moving or vibrating molecules. Atoms and molecules, the smallest particles of any substance, are always in motion.

thermal insulators

Thermal insulation is the reduction of heat transfer (the transfer of thermal energy between objects of differing temperature) between objects in thermal contact or in range of radioactive influence.

thermodynamics

Thermodynamics is a branch of physics concerned with heat and temperature and their relation to energy and work. It defines macroscopic variables, such as internal energy, entropy, and pressure, that partly describe a body of matter or radiation.

freezing

below 32 degrees F

melting

make or become liquefied by heat

boiling

the action of bringing a liquid to the temperature at which it bubble and turns to vapor

deposition

the action of deposing someone, especially, a monarch

temperature

the degree or intensity of heat present in a substance or object, especially as expressed according to a comparative scale and shown by a thermometer or perceived by touch.

combustion

the process of burning something

melting point

the temperature are which a given solid will melt

freezing point

the temperature at which a liquid turns into a solid when cooled

condensation

water that collects as droplets on a cold surface when humid air is in contact with it