CONSTRUCTION:

SCIENCE
(CNS150S/150X)

Lecture 2:
Heat
Learning outcomes:

(a) Define the ways in which heat affects matter (solids, liquids and gasses).

(b) Describe how heat is transferred through

• Conduction
• Convection
• radiation

1. HEAT

We can define heat as a form of energy. Examples of sources of heat are:

• the sun
• electricity
• friction
• chemical reactions
• burning fuels
• internal heat of the earth

When fuels such as gas, coal, wood, oil and petrol are ignited or electrical appliances
are switch on, heat is released. We usually express the value of solid or liguid fuels in
kilojoules (kJ).

The SI unit for heat energy is the joule (J). In practice, however, it is more convenient
to use the kilojoule (kJ) or the megajoule (MJ)

The quantity of heat available depends on the mass and temperature of a body.

2. HOW DOES HEAT AFFECT MATTER (solids, liquids and gasses)?

Heat has a different influence on all matter. Different types of matter react in different
ways to heat. Heat can bring about changes in the following.

• Temperature
• Volume
• Physical properties
• State or phase
• Electrical properties
• Magnetic properties

When a substance is heated, the temperature of the substance changes.

In general, solids, liquids and gases increase in volume when heated.

The physical properties of a body, such as density, hardness, colour and elasticity,
may change if heat is added.

Heat can change the state or phase of a body. Water, when heated to boiling point,
eventually turns into steam. Ice, when heated, melts and changes into water. A metal
such as lead will also melt when heated to a certain temperature.

If a permanent magnet is heated until it is red hot, it will lose its magnetism.

3. TEMPERATURE

We have described above the various changes that heat can bring about in matter. All
the changes occur because the temperature of the matter changes when it is heated.

If a substance, solid, liquid or gas, remains in a solid state, an increase in heat

produces a rise in temperature. A loss of heat produces a drop in temperature.

We can measure temperature. We can get a rough idea of the degree of hotness
(temperature) of a body just by touching it. However, if we want to measure
temperature accuretly, we can only do this with an instrument called a thermometer.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TEMPERATURE AND HEAT?

There is a clear distinction between temperature and heat. Heat is a form of energy.
When heat is added to a substance the temperature of that substance will rise. Heat
produces the sensation of hotness.

The temperature of a body is the thermal state or condition of a body.

Definition of heat

We can therefore define heat as the transfer of energy from one substance to another
as a result of a difference in temperature.

Definition of temperature

Temperature is the condition of a substance regarding its degree of coldness or

hotness.

4. THE TRANSFER OF HEAT

The transfer of heat normally takes place if there is a difference of temperature

between two substances in contact.

Heat can be transferred through

• Conduction
• Convection
 • Radiation

Conduction

Conduction refers to the gradual transfer of heat from a hotter region to a colder region.
Unlike metals, some materials are poor conductors of heat. We use materials which
are poor conductors of heat as insulators. Examples of good heat insulators are: cork,
wood, plastics, asbestos, sawdust, fibreglass and air. Most of these materials are used
as handles on tools, pots and pans.

Convection

The transfer of heat through convection can only take place in liquids and gasses.
Convection is the transfer of heat due to the movement of heated particles which
convey heat to the cooler particles.

If you heat a container of water, the process of convection will result in the circulation
of particles. The hotter particles of water rise to the top of the container. The cooler
particles of water are transferred to the lower regions of the container.

The geyser installed in most houses to heat water, operates on the principle of
convection. Because the heat is transferred through convection, the hottest water will
always be at the top of the geyser. The outlet pipe is therefore connected to the top
and the inlet pipe to the bottom of the geyser.

Radiation

Radiation is the transfer of heat through heat waves or rays that travel through space.

Examples of radiation are the heat rays of the sun traveling through space to reach
the earth, or the heat waves from an electric heater which can be felt a distance away.

Surfaces that readily absorb heat are good radiators of heat, while surfaces that do
not absorb heat easily are bad radiators of heat. Dull and black surfaces absorb almost
all heat waves and are therefore good radiators of heat. Bright polished surfaces
absorb very few heat waves and are therefore bad radiators of heat. It is clear that the
nature of surfaces affects the intensity of the radiation.

5. THE EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION OF MATERIALS

When Heat is applied to certain solids, liquids, or gases, they expand. They increase
in volume and therefore also in length.

Substances do not all expand to the same degree when heated, Copper, for example,
will expand more than iron when the two substances are subjected to equal degrees
of heat.

6. WHAT IS SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY

At this point in our study of heat we need to define the term specific heat capacity.

Definition of specific heat capacity

The specific heat capacity of a substance is the quantity of heat required to raise the
temperature of 1kg of the substance by 1°C or 1K

The unit for specific heat capacity is joule per kilogram °C or joule per kilogram kelvin
and the symbols are J/kg°C or J/kgK.

For example, the specific heat capacity of water is 4,1868 kJ/kg°C (you must use 4,187
kJ/kg°C, unless otherwise requested). This means that 4,187 kJ of energy is required
to raise the temperature of 1kg (1litre) of water by 1°C.

To raise the temperature of water by 2°C we need 2 x 4,187kJ of heat energy.

How to convert °C to Kelvin

To convert °C to Kelvin add 273

K = °C + 273

and C = K -273

Example 1

Convert 50 C to Kelvin

K = °C + 273

= 50 +273

= 323 K

Example 2

Convert 373 K to °C

°C = K – 273

= 373 – 273

= 100 °C

Heat energy

How can we calculate the heat energy gained or lost by a substance?

The formula we use must consider the following:

 • the specific heat capacity of the substance
• the mass of the substance
• the change in temperature of the substance.

We can therefore say that:

Quantity of heat energy

= mass (kg) x specific heat capacity (J/kg) x temperature change (°C)

Heat energy = m x s.h.c x (tc)

Example 1

Find the heat required to raise the temperature of 8kg of water from 15 °C to 20 °C.

Heat energy required = m x s.h.c x tc

= 8 x 4,187 x (20 – 15)

= 8 x 4,187 x 5

= 167,48 kJ

Example 2

Calculate the heat lost if 20kg of iron at a temperature of 80 °C is cooled down to 10

°C. Take the specific heat capacity of iron as 0,460 kJ/kg °C.

Heat lost = m x s.h.c x tc

= 20 x 0,460 x (80 – 10)

= 644 kj

Example 3

The heat required to raise the temperature of 10kg of iron from 10 °C to 32 °C is 101,
2 KJ. Calculate the specific heat capacity of the iron.

Heat required = m x s.h.c x tc

heat required
s.h.c =
m x tc
101,2
=
10 x (32−10)

= 0,460 kJ/kg °C

Heat energy gained and lost

A piece of iron is heated until it becomes red hot. The iron will lose heat and cool down
while the water will gain heat and the temperature of the water will rise.

BUT heat gained = m x s.h.c x tc

and heat lost = m x s.h.c x tc

therefore, m x s.h.c x tc of one substance = m x s.h.c x tc of another substance.

Example 4

What mass of iron at 150 °C is required to raise the temperature of 20 kg of water from
14 C to 50 °C? Take the heat capacity of water as 0,460 kJ/kg °C and that of water as
4,187 kJ/kg °C.

Solution

Iron Water

m x s.h.c x tc = m x s.h.c x tc

m x 0,46 x (150-50) = 20 x 4,187 x (50 – 14)

m x 46 = 3014,64

3 014,64
m=
46

= 65,54 kg