Temperature & Heat Flow
Each list begins with basic conceptual vocabulary you need to know for MCAT questions and proceeds to advanced terms that might appear in context in MCAT passages. The terms are links to Wikipedia articles.
Temperature
Temperature is defined as the average energy of microscopic motions of a single particle in the system per degree of freedom.
Temperature is defined as the average energy of microscopic motions of a single particle in the system per degree of freedom.
Heat
Heat is energy transferred from one body or system to another due to a difference in temperature.
Heat is energy transferred from one body or system to another due to a difference in temperature.
Kelvin
The kelvin is one of the seven SI base units. It corresponds to the absolute temperature scale where the coldest possible temperature is zero.
The kelvin is one of the seven SI base units. It corresponds to the absolute temperature scale where the coldest possible temperature is zero.
Heat conduction
Heat conduction is the spontaneous transfer of thermal energy through matter.
Heat conduction is the spontaneous transfer of thermal energy through matter.
Thermometer
A thermometer is a device that measures temperature or temperature gradient.
A thermometer is a device that measures temperature or temperature gradient.
Celsius
Zero on the Celsius scale was defined until 1954 as the melting point of ice and 100 degrees was defined as the boiling point of water under a pressure of one standard atmosphere. The definition is more formal today.
Zero on the Celsius scale was defined until 1954 as the melting point of ice and 100 degrees was defined as the boiling point of water under a pressure of one standard atmosphere. The definition is more formal today.
Fahrenheit
In the Fahrenheit scale, the melting point of water is 32 degrees and the boiling point is 212 degrees, placing the boiling and melting points of water exactly 180 degrees apart.
In the Fahrenheit scale, the melting point of water is 32 degrees and the boiling point is 212 degrees, placing the boiling and melting points of water exactly 180 degrees apart.
Absolute zero
Absolute zero describes a theoretical system that neither emits nor absorbs energy whose temperature is zero Kelvin.
Absolute zero describes a theoretical system that neither emits nor absorbs energy whose temperature is zero Kelvin.
Heat transfer
Heat transfer is the passage of thermal energy from a hot to a cold body.
Heat transfer is the passage of thermal energy from a hot to a cold body.
Convection
One of the major modes of heat transfer, convection, refers in the most general terms to the movement of currents within fluids.
One of the major modes of heat transfer, convection, refers in the most general terms to the movement of currents within fluids.
Calorie
A calorie is a unit of measurement for energy. In most fields, it has been replaced by the joule. However, a thousand-fold variation remains in common use within the field of nutrition.
A calorie is a unit of measurement for energy. In most fields, it has been replaced by the joule. However, a thousand-fold variation remains in common use within the field of nutrition.
Zeroth law of thermodynamics
The Zeroth law of thermodynamics states that if two thermodynamic systems are in thermal equilibrium with a third, they are also in thermal equilibrium with each other.
The Zeroth law of thermodynamics states that if two thermodynamic systems are in thermal equilibrium with a third, they are also in thermal equilibrium with each other.
Specific heat
Specific heat is the measure of the heat energy required to increase the temperature of a unit quantity of a substance by a certain temperature interval.
Specific heat is the measure of the heat energy required to increase the temperature of a unit quantity of a substance by a certain temperature interval.
Thermal radiation
Thermal radiation refers to electromagnetic waves emitted from the surface of an object which is due to the object's temperature.
Thermal radiation refers to electromagnetic waves emitted from the surface of an object which is due to the object's temperature.
Emissivity
The emissivity of a material is the ratio of energy radiated by the material to energy radiated by a black body at the same temperature.
The emissivity of a material is the ratio of energy radiated by the material to energy radiated by a black body at the same temperature.
Stefan-Boltzmann law
The Stefan-Boltzmann law states that the total energy radiated per unit surface area of a black body in unit time is directly proportional to the fourth power of the black body's thermodynamic temperature.
The Stefan-Boltzmann law states that the total energy radiated per unit surface area of a black body in unit time is directly proportional to the fourth power of the black body's thermodynamic temperature.
Thermal energy
Thermal energy is the energy portion of a system that increases with its temperature.
Thermal energy is the energy portion of a system that increases with its temperature.
Thermal conductivity
Thermal conductivity, k, is the intensive property of a material that indicates its ability to conduct heat. It is used primarily in Fourier's Law for heat conduction.
Thermal conductivity, k, is the intensive property of a material that indicates its ability to conduct heat. It is used primarily in Fourier's Law for heat conduction.
Infrared
Infrared radiation is electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength longer than that of visible light, but shorter than that of radio waves.
Infrared radiation is electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength longer than that of visible light, but shorter than that of radio waves.
Dulong-Petit law
The Dulong-Petit law gives the classical expression for the specific heat capacity of a crystal due to its lattice vibrations.
The Dulong-Petit law gives the classical expression for the specific heat capacity of a crystal due to its lattice vibrations.
R-value
R-value is a term used in the building industry to rate the insulative properties of construction materials. The higher the value, the greater the insulation.
R-value is a term used in the building industry to rate the insulative properties of construction materials. The higher the value, the greater the insulation.
Wien's displacement law
Wien's displacement law states that there is an inverse relationship between the wavelength of the peak of the emission of a black body and its temperature.
Wien's displacement law states that there is an inverse relationship between the wavelength of the peak of the emission of a black body and its temperature.
Planck's law
Planck's law describes the spectral radiance of electromagnetic radiation at all wavelengths from a black body at a given temperature as a function of frequency.
Planck's law describes the spectral radiance of electromagnetic radiation at all wavelengths from a black body at a given temperature as a function of frequency.
Kirchhoff's law of thermal radiation
Kirchhoff's law of thermal radiation states that at thermal equilibrium, the emissivity of a body (or surface) equals its absorptivity
Kirchhoff's law of thermal radiation states that at thermal equilibrium, the emissivity of a body (or surface) equals its absorptivity
Thermal diffusivity
In heat transfer analysis, thermal diffusivity is the ratio of thermal conductivity to volumetric heat capacity.
In heat transfer analysis, thermal diffusivity is the ratio of thermal conductivity to volumetric heat capacity.
Biot number
The Biot number is a dimensionless number used in unsteady-state heat transfer calculations to relate the heat transfer resistance inside and at the surface of a body.
The Biot number is a dimensionless number used in unsteady-state heat transfer calculations to relate the heat transfer resistance inside and at the surface of a body.
Thermal contact conductance
Thermal contact conductance is the study of heat conduction between solid bodies in contact.
Thermal contact conductance is the study of heat conduction between solid bodies in contact.
Heat pipe
A heat pipe is a heat transfer mechanism that can transport large quantities of heat with a very small difference in temperature between the hotter and colder interfaces.
A heat pipe is a heat transfer mechanism that can transport large quantities of heat with a very small difference in temperature between the hotter and colder interfaces.
Adiabatic index
The heat capacity ratio or adiabatic index is the ratio of the heat capacity at constant pressure to heat capacity at constant volume.
The heat capacity ratio or adiabatic index is the ratio of the heat capacity at constant pressure to heat capacity at constant volume.
Heat equation
The heat equation is a partial differential equation which describes the variation of temperature in a given region over time.
The heat equation is a partial differential equation which describes the variation of temperature in a given region over time.
Nusselt number
The Nusselt number is a dimensionless number that measures the enhancement of heat transfer from a surface that occurs in a 'real' situation compared to the heat transferred if just conduction occurred.
The Nusselt number is a dimensionless number that measures the enhancement of heat transfer from a surface that occurs in a 'real' situation compared to the heat transferred if just conduction occurred.
