Thermal Energy Transfer

01Thermal Energy Transfer

Internal energy

This section covers the kinetic and potential contributions to internal energy and the ways a system's internal energy can change.

Energy stored by particles

Internal energy, UU: the total kinetic energy and total potential energy of all the particles in a body, with these microscopic energies distributed randomly among the particles.

Particles within a substance have a range of speeds and separations, so their individual kinetic and potential energies are not all equal.

  • Kinetic energy is associated with particle motion.
  • Potential energy depends on particle separation and intermolecular interactions.
  • Internal energy is measured in joules (J).

Heating can raise internal energy by increasing particle kinetic energy. A change of state can also alter internal energy because the potential energy of the particle ensemble changes.

random motionparticle separation

Changing internal energy

Process Energy transfer Effect on UU
System is heated Energy enters the system Increases
Work is done on the system Energy enters the system mechanically Increases
System transfers energy away by heating Energy leaves the system Decreases
System does work Energy is transferred to the surroundings Decreases

Exam Tip: In a definition of internal energy, include both the kinetic and potential energies of the particles and make clear that these energies are randomly distributed.

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