Thermal Expansion

Question 1

What is heat energy?

Answer 1

Heat energy is the total energy of all the particles in a substance combined or how fast they move.

Question 2

What is temperature?

Answer 2

Temperature is a measure of the average energy of a particle, or how fast one moves.

Question 3

What happens when a substance is heated? What is the name for this process?

Answer 3

Thermal Expansion:
When a substance is heated, the particles vibrate more. This means that they need more space so the substance expands.

Question 4

(T or F) The particles in a solid expand when heated.

Answer 4

False, it is important to remember that the particles only spread out, they do not expand.

Question 5

What happens when a substance is cooled? What is the name for this process?

Answer 5

Thermal Contraction:
When a substance is cooled, the particles vibrate less so then need less space. This makes the substance contract.

Question 6

Which states of matter can expand or contract?

Answer 6

All of the states of matter can expand and contract

Question 7

What happens if an expanding substance is in a container with a fixed volume?

Answer 7

The container will break