Class VIII Subject Science

Unit 7: Heating and cooling

Attainment targets for final assessment

1. Analyze the effects of heat gain (heating) and heat loss (cooling).
2. Draw heating and cooling curve of different states of water.
3. Identify the effect of thermal expansion and contraction with their
applications in daily life.
4. Classify materials as thermal conductors and insulators of heat.
5. Explain why metals are good thermal conductors and fluids are poor
conductors of heat using the particle model of matter.
6. Describe the process of heat transfer through conduction, convection and
radiation.

Glossary words: 

conduction, convection, convection current, radiation, expansion, contraction,

thermal, insulator, conductor, temperature, heat gain, heat loss, heating and
cooling curve, bimetallic strip, poor absorber/ reflector, infrared waves, radiator/
absorber, emitter

Heating and Cooling https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5AZwrTkQNA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCJtQHHC5gM
Heat is a form of energy which flows from a region of higher temperature to a
region of lower temperature. It is different from temperature which is a measure
of degree of hotness.
In general, solids, liquids and gases expand when they gain heat and contract
when they lose heat.
Temperature is a measure of the degree of hotness of an object.
Example #1
Both the ice cube and the dry ice below are cold. Which has a lower temperature?
Can you tell the difference in temperature by using your sense of touch?

Example # 2
Put your right hand in some warm water and feel your fore head. Does your
forehead feel warm or cold? Put your left hand in some ice-cold water and feel
your forehead. Does your forehead feel warm or cold?
From your observations, do you think that your sense of touch is good enough for
measuring temperature?
Our sense of touch can tell us whether something is hot or cold, but it cannot tell
us the degree of hotness accurately or quantitatively. Our senses are limited and
not always reliable. Instruments can be used to extend our senses and can
measure physical quantities accurately. Thermometers are instruments used to
measure temperature.

Clinical thermometer

Laboratory thermometer
Temperature sensor with data logger

The SI Unit of temperature is the Kelvin (K) although the degree Celsius (0C) is
used commonly.

Heat and temperature

Heat is a form of energy which flows from a hotter region to a colder region until
both reach the same temperature.

Think of a few ways to cool a glass of hot milk quickly.

Why does the milk become cold in each case?

The temperature of milk is higher than that of its surroundings. When it loses heat
to the surroundings, it becomes cold.
The hot milk loses heat to the cold water and its temperature drops. The cold
water gains heat from the hot milk and its temperature rises .

What will happen to the temperature of both the milk and the water after
sometime?

The cold milk which is taken out from the refrigerator becomes warm because
it loses coldness to the surroundings.

It is incorrect to say that it loses coldness. It becomes warmer because it gains

heat from the surroundings.

The temperature of a solid, liquid or gas increases when it gains heat and
decreases when it loses heat.

Heat is often confused with temperature. Temperature is a measure of the

degree of hotness. It can be measured with a thermometer but heat cannot be
measured.

HW Questions,

1. Differentiate between heat and temperature.

2. Name an instrument which is used to measure temperature. What kind of
temperature scale does it use?
3. Can the laboratory thermometer be used to measure the temperature of
volcanic lava which has temperature ranging from about 6000C to 12000C.
4. Mary’s hands felt cold after touching a glass of cold water. Explain why?