Introduction
Welcome 6th graders!
In this unit, we are going to be learning about thermal energy.
Some of the things we will cover are:
- How thermal energy transfers between objects
- The relationship between kinetic energy and temperature
- The ways the transfer of energy impacts the Earth's major processes such as weather, climate and life on Earth
Task
Task 1:
Watch this StudyJams video about thermal energy.
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/energy-light-sound/heat.htm
Task 2:
Answer these questions:
1. What is heat?
a. temperature
b. thermal energy
c. electricity
d. electromagnetic energy
2. What is the difference between a conductor and an insulator?
a. A conductor can get heat transfer through convection and conduction and an insulator can only get heat transfer from radiation
b. A conductor lets heat pass through it easily, and an insulator does not allow heat to pass through it easily
c. A conductor can only get heat transfer through conduction, and an insulator can only get heat transfer through radiation
d. A conductor is unaffected by heat, and an insulator is extremely affected by heat
3. Why does the water in a swimming pool stay cool on a hot, sunny day?
a. Because radiation has no effect on water
b. Because of convection
c. Because the pool is a good insulator
d. Because the sun's rays are reflected off of the pool's surface
4. Which method of heat transfer is the transfer of heat through a liquid or gas?
a. convection
b. reflection
c. conduction
d. radiation
5. How does heat transfer through conduction?
a. From the warm object to the cool object
b. From the cool object to the warm object
c. From the warm object into the air
d. From the air to the cool object
Task 3:
Go to the interactive website by clicking on the link provided and explore the Topic of Thermal Energy Transfer.
Task 4:
Click on this link and watch a video called "Misconceptions about Temperature"
Evaluation
Please read over this scenario. In your notebook, provide an answer by drawing and labeling a model to explain your thinking.
It was a hot summer day. Mattie poured herself a glass of lemonade. the lemonade was warm, so Mattie put some ice in the glass. After 10 minutes, Mattie noticed that the ice was melting and the lemonade was cold. Mattie wondered what made the lemonade get cold. She had three different ideas. Which idea do you think best explains why the lemonade got cold?
Choose an answer:
a. the coldness from the ice moved into the lemonade
b. the heat from the lemonade moved into the ice
c. the coldness and the heat moved back and forth until the lemonade cooled off