Haley+H

=Thermal Energy =

= = =What is Thermal Energy ? = Thermal energy is energy due to the motion and arrangement of molecules and atoms in a substance. This type of energy also has to do with the total amount of kinetic and potential energy the moving molecules and atoms in a substance have. Thermal energy can come in many different factions; like wind, heat, and convection. When trying to measure the amount of thermal energy a substance has, it is best to use temperature. Temperature is the measure of the average amount of kinetic energy the molecules have. From research, it was found that when a substance’s molecules gain energy the substance becomes hotter and when the substance’s molecules lose kinetic energy, the substance becomes cooler.  What is an Application of Thermal Energy? One application of thermal energy is a windmill. A windmill is a machine that converts the energy of wind to rotational energy by its spinning blades located in the front of the machine. At first, the rotational energy of its blade was used for milling, hence the name windmill. However, in the modern days its energy is used to supply power for industrial and agricultural needs. A windmill is an example of thermal energy because it produces wind and in wind the motion and position of its atoms and molecules is always changing.  Another application of thermal energy is fire, as modeled below.  An Experiment with Thermal Energy! The purpose of the experiment conducted was to see if there is a relationship between the temperature of an individual's hand and the color a mood ring changed once it was placed on the individuals' finger. First, five individuals where chosen and the individual’s hand temperature was taken using a thermometer. After the temperature of the individual’s hand taken, the number was recorded and a mood ring was placed on the individual’s finger. After one minute from placing the mood ring on the finger the color of the mood ring was observed and recorded. In the end, it was found that the most common color the mood ring changed was blue. The least common color the mood ring changed was green or purple. After reviewing the results, it was found that there was a relationship between the temperature of the individual's hand and the color of the mood ring. It was also found that individuals that have a hand temperature between 25-30 degrees Celsius that normally the mood ring turned blue. In addition, if the individuals have a hand temperature around 32 degrees Celsius that the mood ring is green and when the individuals hand temperature is around 33 degrees Celsius the mood ring turned purple.

Now, you are probably asking what does this experiment have to do with thermal energy? Well, good question! This experiment is an example of thermal energy because the heat from the individual's finger caused the atoms inside the mood ring to move faster and change matter. When the temperature of the atoms increases, the atoms move faster and have a higher chance off colliding and changing. Once the atoms collided and changed so did the color of the mood ring.