Heat and Temperature
This topic is broken into units to help in formulating cohesive, effective lessons. Clicking on each unit title below will display appropriate activities, lesson plans, or labs.
Unit materials are a subset of all possible materials available for this topic, selected especially with the new physics teacher in mind. You may instead browse all materials for this topic here .
Conceptual Physics Heat and Temperature Units
Many students cannot discriminate between the terms "heat" and "temperature," and even use them interchangeably. The persistence of this confusion can present a barrier to understanding other important physical science concepts.
Lesson Plans:
This website has lesson plans to build energy projects such as this solar oven. Teacher support and information is also available.
(Open Website )
A great way to help students understand the relationship between heat and temperature is with a look at the behavior of gases in closed containers. This set of 3 Java-based labs for grades 7-9 is fun and interactive, yet also meets rigorous standards. Complete lesson plans are included. Try teaming it with the PhET Gas Properties simulation.
(Open Website )
Activities:
This workshop by Operation Primary Physical Science introduces the concepts of heat and temperature. It is designed to provide teachers an inquiry-based learning experience to the basic concepts of thermodynamics and the thermal properties of matter.
(Open Website )
In this inquiry-based lab, students investigate thermal absorption by using temperature probes connected to computer USB interfaces to examine the effects of radiant heat on three metal cans of varying colors.
(Open Website )
Content Support For Teachers:
This educator's guide features content support in fundamentals of heat and thermal properties. Related classroom labs, demonstrations, and assessments are included.
(Open Website )
This item, written by a team of teachers, offers content support in heat and thermodynamics, kinetic theory, and a straightforward explanation of thermal radiation. The historical perspectives make this a well-rounded resource.
(Open Website )
Student Tutorials:
Student tutorial on heat transfer through radiation, conduction, and convection. It is written in "bite-size" pieces so that adolescent learners can grasp the concepts more easily and connect information with prior knowledge.
(Open Website )
Activities:
In this entertaining simulation, students pump gas molecules into a chamber. They can control volume, heat, and change gravity. A pop-up histogram helps them see the connection between kinetic energy and heat.
(Open Website )
References and Collections:
This resource provides an abundance of visual tools for helping students understand beginning thermodynamic processes. Animations, interactive simulations, practical problems with online solutions, and illustrated explanations provide a comprehensive scope of activities for classroom use.
(Open Website )
Content Support For Teachers:
This item, written by a team of teachers, offers content support in heat and thermodynamics, kinetic theory, and a straightforward explanation of thermal radiation. The historical perspectives make this a well-rounded resource.
(Open Website )
This item is a set of eight animations relating to heat and thermodynamics. Topics include Brownian motion, molecular structures, and behavior of gas molecules subjected to heating and cooling. Explanations and calculations accompany each image. Most also link to videos which more fully explore the phenomena. CAUTION: The videos require an x-msvideo plug-in, which can be time-consuming to install in a computer lab.
(Open Website )
Student Tutorials:
This item is a study of common sources of energy. Students answer questions about the usefulness of nuclear, fossil, and gravitational sources of energy. Included are notes and answers for instructors wishing to use this material.
(Open Website )
A visual platform to analyze thermofluids problems, verify hand calculations, pursue what-if scenarios, visualize thermal systems, and engage in a life-long journey to master thermodynamics
(Open Website )
Lesson Plans:
This lesson for 9th grade Physical Science promotes understanding of the Earth's Greenhouse Effect. It goes into detail to explain solar radiation and how greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb infrared radiation to maintain a heat cycle. Students further explore the greenhouse effect through activities using 2-liter plastic soda bottles, thermometers, and a reflector lamp.
(Open Website )
A module for 9th grade Physical Science on the processes associated with global climate change. Includes seven creative classroom activities to promote understanding of the carbon cycle, transpiration, and how human activity is impacting the climate of our planet.
(Open Website )
Activities:
A thought-provoking simulation that can be adapted for grades 7-12. Students can select Ice Age, the year 1750, or the present to see how changing greenhouse gas levels cause the climate to change. Teacher-created labs and lessons are also available.
(Open Website )
Lesson Plans:
A tutorial for teachers:(Open Website )
