S3.8.4 For the adult

Heat and temperature

Which holds more energy, a cup of boiling water or a bath of warm water?

What this chapter teaches

Temperature tells how hot something is. Heat is energy moving from hotter to cooler things. A large amount of warm water can hold more thermal energy than a small amount of hot water.

Three questions to ask

There is no one right wording. Listen for the idea.

  1. Which way does energy move when a hot cup stands in a cool room?
  2. Why can a bath of warm water hold more thermal energy than a cup of boiling water?
  3. How do you read a thermometer when the liquid stops between two numbers?

After the chapter, the learner can

  • Explain the difference between heat and temperature
  • Read a thermometer and record temperatures in degrees Celsius

What they copy into their notebook

Temperature tells how hot a thing is, in °C. Heat is energy moving from hot to cool. Thermal energy depends on temperature and on how much there is.

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