Heat and Temperature

Heat
Heat is a form of energy associated with the molecular motion. Heat is a
transfer of energy from hot to a cold body. The transfer of energy by
heating can only happen if there is a difference in temperature between
two bodies. It is denoted by ‘E’ or ‘Q’.

If a hot body is in thermal contact with a cold body, then energy

will be transferred from the hot to the cold body. This process is
called "heating.”

Natural Flow of Heat

Natural flow of heat always takes place from a region of high temperature
to a region of lower temperature.

Just as a rolling ball will drop from the table to the floor but will not jump
back from the floor to the table, so energy will travel spontaneously from
an object at higher temperature to one at lower temperature and not the
other way around.

The modern definition of heat is stated as:

The sum of the total kinetic energies of all the molecules of a substance is called
heat.

Translational kinetic Rotational kinetic Vibrational kinetic

energy energy energy

If the average kinetic energy of the molecules of a substance increases,

its temperature also increases.

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SAT-2 Physics/IB Diploma By Raza Kayani
Thermal Equilibrium

When two bodies at different temperatures are brought into thermal

contact, heat flows from hot body to cold body till the temperature of
both the bodies becomes equal. The two bodies are said to be in thermal
equilibrium.

The state in which two bodies in physical contact with each other
have the same temperatures.

Temperature
Temperature determines the directional flow of heat from one body to
another when they are brought in thermal contact with each other.

Temperature can be defined as the measure of the degree of hotness or

coldness of a body.

The modern definition of temperature is stated as:

The average kinetic energy of all the molecules of a substance is

called temperature.

ABSOLUTE SCALE AND ABSOLUTE ZERO, OF TEMPERATURE

The scientists have developed an ideal, perfect scale with an absolutely

straight-line relationship between temperature and the thermometric
property. This scale is called the absolute scale of temperature.

If the graph between volume and temperature is extra plotted, it

intersects T-axis at -273˚C. At -273˚C volume of any gas theoretically
becomes zero as indicated by the following graph.

Fig: a volume–temperature graph at constant volume pressure

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SAT-2 Physics/IB Diploma By Raza Kayani
But practically volume of a gas can never become zero. Actually, no gas
can achieve the lowest possible temperature and before -273˚C all gases
are condensed to liquid.

This temperature is referred to as absolute scale or absolute zero. At

-273˚C all molecular motions are ceased.

TEMPERATURE ON ABSOLUTE/KELVIN SCALE

The absolute scale is also known as the Kelvin scale, which starts from
absolute zero. Absolute Zero is the lowest temperature possible. Zero
Kelvin (0K) is -273oC.

The size of 1 degree on the Celsius Scale is the same as 1 degree change
on the Kelvin scale. To find the temperature on the Kelvin Scale, 273 is
added to the temperature on the Celsius Scale.

T / K   / C  273
Kelvin temperature = Celsius temperature + 273

To find the temperature on the Celsius Scale, 273 is subtracted from the
temperature on the Kelvin scale.

 / C  T / K  273
Celsius temperature = Kelvin temperature – 273

Calibrating thermometers needs fixed Temperatures

Centigrade Scale (Celsius Scale)

On Celsius Scale, the lower fixed point for water is marked as 0 oC and
upper fixed point is marked as 100oC.

ΔT = 100 – 0 = 100oC

The length of the thermometer between the melting point of ice and
boiling point of water is divided into 100 equal divisions and each part is
called Centigrade degree (1oC).

Fahrenheit Scale

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SAT-2 Physics/IB Diploma By Raza Kayani
On Fahrenheit Scale, the lower fixed point for water is marked as 32 oF
and upper fixed point is marked as 212oF.

ΔT = 212 – 32 = 180oF

The length between the lower fixed and upper fixed point is divided into
180 equal divisions and each part is known as 1 oF.

Kelvin Scale (Absolute Scale)

On Kelvin Scale, the lower fixed point for water is marked as 273K and
upper fixed point is marked as 373K.

ΔT = 273K – 273K = 100K

The length between the lower fixed and upper fixed point is divided into
100 equal divisions and each part is known as 1K.

above three scales can be combined to make a single relationship as

under

( T o C−0 ) ( T o F−32 ) ( T o K−273 )

= =
ΔT ΔT ΔT

( T o C−0 ) ( T o F−32 ) ( T o K−273 )

= =
100 180 100

( T o C−0 ) ( T o F−32 ) ( T o K−273 )

= =
10 18 10

Conversion of Temperature
Q: Convert temperatures of 60.0°F into Celsius and Kelvin temperature?

To Celsius temperature

( T o C−0 ) ( T o F−32 )
=
100 180

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SAT-2 Physics/IB Diploma By Raza Kayani
( T o C−0 ) ( 60−32 )
=
10 18

( T o C ) (28 )
=
10 18

(28 )
TC=
18
× 10 = 15.6OC

To Kelvin temperature
( TF−32 ) ( TK −273 )
=
180 100
Q: In 1983, at Vostok Station, Antarctica, the lowest outdoor temperature
ever recorded on Earth is −129°F. Convert this temperature into the
Celsius and Kelvin scales?

To Celsius temperature?
( T o C−0 ) ( T o F−32 )
=
100 180

( T o C−0 ) (−129−32 )
=
10 18

( T o C ) (−161 )
=
10 18

T o C=
(−161 )
18
× 10 = - 89OC

To Kelvin temperature?

( TF−32 ) ( TK −273 )
=
18 10

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SAT-2 Physics/IB Diploma By Raza Kayani
(−129−32 ) ( TK−273 )
=
18 10

(−161 ) ( TK−273 )
=
18 10

(−161 )
×10=( TK−273 )
18

−89=( TK−273 )

273 – 89 = TK
273 – 89 = TK

184K = TK

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SAT-2 Physics/IB Diploma By Raza Kayani