This
series of booklets looks at the concept
of energy in one particular context
– the flow of energy between objects
that are at different temperatures.
The reason for doing this is to develop
and practise a consistent way of talking
energy that will be used later in a
wider variety of contexts. The focus
is on thinking about where energy is
stored and how it passes from one object
to another.
The first booklet (Mixing) looks at
how temperature can be thought of as
a concentration of energy. This idea
is used to explain how energy flows
from hot objects to cold objects (Difference
and flow) and how energy is dissipated
when it passes into the surroundings
(Spreading out). These ideas are then
applied in a variety of everyday contexts
(Heating and cooling), before being
extended to consider the role of insulation
as a barrier to energy flow (Insulation).
| Booklet
01 |
| |
Mixing
This booklet uses parallel animation
and practical work to begin to
develop a powerful analogy for
thinking about energy, energy
transfer and temperature. |
| |
| Open
booklet |
| Booklet
02 |
| |
Difference
and Flow
The model used in the first booklet
is developed and applied to consider
the importance of temperature
difference in driving energy transfer
between bodies. |
| |
| Open
booklet |
| Booklet
03 |
| |
Spreading
Out
In transfer, or spread, of energy
from a small object at higher
temperature to surroundings at
lower temperature, the relative
sizes of object and surroundings
matters, and from animation and
practical observations of this
come introductory ideas about
conservation and dissipation.
|
| |
| Open
booklet |
| Booklet
04 |
| |
Heating
and Cooling
This builds on the model established
and used in the first three booklets,
and places the ideas in everyday
contexts. It also goes further,
by considering objects that are
initially cooler than their surroundings
as well as those that are warmer.
|
| |
| Open
booklet |
| Booklet
05 |
| |
Insulation
Everyday examples, as well as
use of arrows to indicate energy
transfer as introduced in earlier
booklets, provide the starting
points for observations of the
passive effect of insulation. |
| |
| Open
booklet |
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