http://www.ck12.org Chapter 18. Thermal Energy
CHAPTER
18 Thermal Energy
Chapter Outline
18.1 Temperature and Heat
18.2 TRANSFER OFTHERMALENERGY
18.3 USINGTHERMALENERGY
18.4 REFERENCES
Death Valley, California, pictured here, is one of the hottest places on Earth. The temperature of the air near the
ground can be as high as 57°C (134°F) —and that’s in the shade! The temperature of the sand in the baking sun can
be much higher. If you were to walk barefoot on the hot sand, it would burn your feet. How does energy from the
sun heat the sand? What causes the sand’s temperature to rise? And what exactly does temperature measure? Think
about these questions as you read about thermal energy in this chapter.
William Warby.www.flickr.com/photos/wwarby/ 9641689318 /.CC BY 2. 0.