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Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: What Is Thermal Energy?

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn what thermal energy is and how to calculate it.
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Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Physical Science: Thermal Energy

For Students 6th - 9th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] What thermal energy is and how it relates to temperature and mass.
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Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: What Is Heat?

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students learn about the definition of heat as a form of energy and how it exists in everyday life. They also learn about the three types of heat transfer as well as the connection between heat and insulation.
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eBook
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Thermal Physics: What Is Heat?

For Students 9th - 10th
This physics tutorial is devoted to understanding how the relative temperature of two objects affects the direction that heat is transferred between the two objects.
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Unit Plan
California Institute of Technology

Nasa: Cool Cosmos: What Is Heat?

For Students 3rd - 5th
Eight different types of energy that can convert into thermal energy are described. A movement activity and an experiment are included in this overview of thermal energy.
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Website
FT Exploring

Ft Exploring: What Type of Energy Is It?

For Students 9th - 10th
How many types of energy are there? Are there many forms of energy, such as electrical, mechanical, and chemical? Or are there really just two types of energy - kinetic energy and potential energy? Here you can learn about these...
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Unit Plan
E-learning for Kids

E Learning for Kids: Science: Kaap De Goede Hoop: What Is Heat?

For Students 3rd - 5th
Anesu lives at the Kaap De Goede Hoop (Cape of Good Hope), and is learning about sources of heat. Join her on the adventure.
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Handout
Science Struck

Science Struck: Thermal Energy Facts

For Students 9th - 10th
Explains what thermal energy is, describes some different types, and presents facts about each type.
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Unit Plan
eSchool Today

E School Today: Energy

For Students 4th - 8th
Explains different kinds of energy, covering kinetic, potential, gravitational, mechanical, sound, thermal, chemical, electrical, and radiant energy. Also looks at storage, transfer, and dissipation of energy. Includes a short...
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eBook
Other

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts: The Energy Report: Solar Energy [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Chapter 10 of a report on the energy industry in Texas. It examines solar energy, its history, and how it is used. The solar power industry in Texas is described, its economic importance, methods of producing it, and how it is...
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Unit Plan
Concord Consortium

Concord Consortium What Is Happening When a Spark Occurs?

For Students 9th - 10th
Activity 1 of this module investigates: How does potential energy change when things are pushed or pulled? Exploring how force is related to potential energy, this activity investigates how potential energy is changed when a spring is...
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Handout
Science Struck

Science Struck: What Is a Bolometer and What Is It Used For?

For Students 9th - 10th
A bolometer is an instrument used to measure radiant energy. Learn about its history, its advantages, how it works, some different types, and its important applications.
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Activity
Science is Fun

Science Is Fun: Rubber Bands and Heat

For Students 4th - 8th
An experiment to investigate the thermal properties of rubber by studying its behavior in different scenarios. A discussion of how entropy explains what is observed is provided.
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Handout
Energy for Sustainable Development

Esd Bulgaria: Kids & Energy: Seven Energy Principles

For Students 3rd - 5th
Outlines the seven main principles of energy.
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: What Is Energy? Short Demos

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Three short, hands-on, in-class demos expand students' understand of energy. First, using peanuts and heat, students see how the human body burns food to make energy. Then, students create paper snake mobiles to explore how heat energy...
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Article
Physics4kids

Physics 4 Kids: Heat and Thermal Energy

For Students 9th - 10th
When scientists originally studied thermodynamics, they were really studying heat and thermal energy. Heat can do anything: move from one area to another, get atoms excited, and even increase energy. Did we say energy? That's what heat...
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eBook
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Thermal Physics: Thermometers as Speedometers

For Students 9th - 10th
Through interactive exercises and illustrated tutorials, students answer the fundamental questions: What is the reading on a thermometer the reflection of? What does temperature measure?
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Handout
Energy for Sustainable Development

Esd Bulgaria: Kids & Energy: Solar Energy

For Students 3rd - 5th
Explains what solar energy is, how it differs from photovoltaic energy, and how it is harnessed to produce electric power for humans.
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Handout
MadSci Network

The Mad Scientist Network/is 0 K Absolute Zero?

For Students 9th - 10th
Using a question and answer format, this page explains what is meant by the term "absolute zero." The basis for the Kelvin temperature scale is described. And the relationship between heat or energy and temperature is discussed.
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: To Heat or Not to Heat?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students are introduced to various types of energy with a focus on thermal energy and types of heat transfer as they are challenged to design a better travel thermos that is cost efficient, aesthetically pleasing and meets the design...
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eBook
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Thermal Physics: What Does Heat Do?

For Students 9th - 10th
This physics tutorial covers the topic of measuring the quantity of heat that is transferred between the system and the surroundings. Students learn about calorimetry- the science associated with determining the changes in energy of a...
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Handout
Other

Forms of Energy: Heat, Radiant, Electrical, Chemical, Nuclear Energy

For Students 3rd - 8th
Explains what each of these types of energy is and provides examples.
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Handout
University of St. Andrews (UK)

University of St. Andrews: Insulators

For Students 9th - 10th
The nature of insulators is described at the atomic level. Band gap theory is used to explain what distinguishes insulators from conductors.
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Handout
US Energy Information Administration

U.s. Eia Energy Kids: Energy Units Basics

For Students 9th - 10th
Instructions for converting the physical measurements of different types of fuels, such as gallons or barrels, to British thermal units (Btu), allowing for cross-comparison.