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Physics HL

Chapter 7: Thermal Energy Transfers

Build thermal physics from particle models to calorimetry and phase change, then apply conduction, convection, and radiation laws including Stefan-Boltzmann and Wien scaling.

Estimated chapter time: 148 minutes

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  1. 1How to Read This Thermal Energy Transfers Chapter
    1. 1.1From Microscopic Models to Measurable Heat Transfer
    2. 1.2Energy Language Before Formula Language
    3. 1.3Chapter Roadmap
  2. 27.1 Particles, Temperature, and Internal Energy
    1. 2.1Particle Models for Solids, Liquids, and Gases
    2. 2.2Temperature as Average Random Kinetic Energy
    3. 2.3Thermal Energy, Internal Energy, and Thermal Equilibrium
    4. 2.4Why Kelvin Matters in Thermal Physics
  3. 37.2 Specific Heat Capacity and Calorimetry
    1. 3.1Specific Heat Capacity as an Energy-Slope
    2. 3.2Calorimetry Equation and Sign Discipline
    3. 3.3Two-Body Thermal Equilibrium Problems
  4. 47.3 Phase Change and Specific Latent Heat
    1. 4.1Why Temperature Plateaus During Phase Change
    2. 4.2Latent Heat of Fusion and Vaporization
    3. 4.3Reading Heating Curves as Energy Maps
  5. 57.4 Conduction and Convection
    1. 5.1Microscopic Picture of Conduction
    2. 5.2Fourier Law in One Dimension
    3. 5.3Convection as Bulk Fluid Motion
    4. 5.4Insulation and Composite Walls
  6. 67.5 Thermal Radiation, Stefan-Boltzmann, and Wien's Law
    1. 6.1Radiation Without a Medium
    2. 6.2Stefan-Boltzmann Law and Net Exchange
    3. 6.3Wien's Law and Spectral Peak
    4. 6.4Stellar and Planetary Applications
  7. 7Chapter 7 Wrap-Up
    1. 7.1A Reliable Thermal Problem-Solving Sequence

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