Chapter-4: Unit of Heat
Chapter-4: Unit of Heat
Chapter-4: Unit of Heat
Chapter-4
Heat is the transfer of energy from a hot body. The sense of touch can be used to understand the degree
of hotness or coldness of something. But the sense of touch is not reliable and cannot be always used to
say how much hot anything is. Moreover, using the sense of touch can be risky in case of something
being very hot. Thus, hotness of anything is measured in terms of TEMPERATURE in reliable way.
To measure temperature a device called THERMOMETER is used.
Unit of heat:
There are three units which are used to measure the temperature: Degree Celsius, Fahrenheit and
Kelvin.
Degree Celsius: Degree Celsius is written as °C and read as degree Celsius or simply Celsius. For
example 20°C; it is read as twenty degree Celsius.
Fahrenheit: Fahrenheit is written as °F and read as degree Fahrenheit. For example 25°F; it is read as
twenty five degree Fahrenheit.
Kelvin: Kelvin is written as K. For example 100K; it is read as hundred Kelvin.
Thermometer:
Thermometer is a device which is used to measure temperature. Thermometer is made of a long narrow
glass tube; with a bulb at one end. The narrow tube appears as a continuous silver line; because it is
filled with mercury. Mercury is a metal which is in liquid state at room temperature and it readily
expands or contracts at the slightest change in temperature. Hence, mercury is used in thermometer.
Types of thermometer:
Laboratory Thermometer: Laboratory thermometer is used to measure the temperature. The scale of
temperature is graduated generally from –10°C to 110°C over the glass tube. Each division of
temperature scale is further divided into 10 parts to read fraction of temperature.
Clinical Thermometer: Clinical thermometer is used to measure the body temperature. The scale of
temperature is graduated from 35°C to 42°C and or from 94°F to 108°F. The temperature of human
body always remains within this range and this is the range on the clinical thermometer. There is a kink
near the bulb of clinical thermometer which prevents the automatic fall of mercury level.
Transfer of heat:
Heat is transferred by conduction, convection and radiation.
Conduction:
Transfer of heat from one particle to the adjacent particle is known as conduction of heat. In solids, heat
is transferred by the process of conduction. In this process, the transfer of heat takes place through
adjacent molecules.
Example: When one end of an iron rod is put over flame then part which is nearer to the flame is heated
first and heat is gradually transferred to the other end of the rod. This happens because particles of iron
rod which are nearer to the flame receive the heat and transfer this to the adjacent particles.
Subsequently, the adjacent particles transfer the heat to the next adjacent particles. This process
continues and heat reaches to the other end of the rod. Thus, heat transfer in solid takes place through
conduction.
Materials which do not allow heat to pass through them are called bad conductor or poor conductor of
heat. They are also called insulators. Example: rubber, wood, plastic, etc. This is the cause that handles
of frying pan or other kitchen utensils are made of plastic.
Convection:
The transfer of heat because of movement of the molecules of the medium; via mass transfer; is called
convection or convection of heat.
Water and air are bad conductors of heat. But they do become hot, in spite of being bad conductors.
Heat transfer in fluids takes place through convection.
Convection in water: When water is heated in a pan, the particles of water which are near the source of
heat; get heated first. Because of heating, they become light; and rise in water. The gap which is created
because of rise of hot particles is filled by cold particles of water from the surrounding area. Thus a
cyclical movement of particles begins and ends up heating the whole water of the pan. The cyclical
movement in fluids because of heating is called convection current.
Convection in air: Air gets heated because of convection; the way water gets heated. Air near the
source of heat gets heated and rises above. This leaves a gap; which is filled by the colder air from the
surrounding. The convection current thus starts in air which results in heating up of air.
When you place your palm above a flame you will feel the hotness of the flame. But when you will
place your palm below the flame the area will be colder. This shows how the colder air from below
moves up; due to convection current.
Land Breeze: In coastal areas, the breeze which moves from land towards the sea is called land breeze.
In the night, the land cools down more quickly than the ocean surface. This makes the air over the water
surface warmer than air over the land surface. Warmer air over the water surface rises in the air and air
from the land rushes towards the water surface to fill the gap. This phenomenon continues which creates
a flow of air from land to the sea. This phenomenon is called land breeze.
Radiation:
All hot bodies emit heat by the process of radiation. Radiation of heat does not require a medium.
Sunlight comes to the earth because of radiation as there is no medium present between the atmosphere
of the earth and the sun.
One can feel the heat of bonfire by standing around it. We get warmth from the room heater because of
radiation.
Reflection and absorption of heat: When heat falls over an object some of the heat is absorbed by the
body and some of the heat is reflected. The temperature of an object increases because of absorption of
heat.
In conventional room heater you can see the reflector attached with it. The reflector of the room heater
reflects the heat towards the person sitting or standing near the room heater.
Reflection is the cause that umbrella is used to protect from heat of the sun in summer. Dark color
absorbs more heat while light color reflects most of the heat. That’s why wearing light colored clothes is
preferred in summer, dark colored clothes are preferred in winter.
Dark clothes absorb more heat and keep one comfortable in winter. On the other hand, light clothes
reflect most of the heat and keep one comfortable in summer.
Now-a-days many kitchen utensils come in black color, since utensils of black color absorb more heat
and thus cooking becomes faster.
Woolen Cloth: Woolen clothes are used in winter season. Wool is a poor conductor of heat. In addition
to it; air gets trapped in woolen fiber to further increase the poor conductivity of wool. This prevents the
radiation of heat of our body to the surrounding and prevents the cold from surrounding to affect our
body. Thus, wearing woolen cloth makes one comfortable in winter season.
Important Terms:
Temperature: The reliable measure of hotness or coldness of anything.
Thermometer: A device to measure the temperature.
Degree Celsius: Unit of measurement of temperature.
Clinical Thermometer: A device to measure the temperature of human body.
Laboratory Thermometer: Used to measure the temperature in laboratory.
Maximum-Minimum Thermometer: Use to measure the temperature of climate.
Conduction: Mode of transfer of heat in solids.
Convection: Mode of transfer of heat in liquids and air.
Radiation: Mode of transfer of heat without medium.
Conductor: Materials that allow the flow of heat through them.
Insulator: Materials that do not allow the flow of heat through them.
Land breeze: Breeze that flows from land surface to sea surface in summer nights.
Sea breeze: Breeze that flows from sea surface to water surface in summer days.
Questions: How does the heat from the sun reach us?
It cannot reach us by conduction or convection as there is no medium such as air in most part of the
space between the earth and the sun. From the sun the heat comes to us by another process known as
radiation.
Radiation can take place whether a medium is present or not.
Questions: In summer we prefer light-coloured clothes and in winter we usually wear dark-coloured
clothes. Why
Dark surfaces absorb more heat and, therefore, we feel comfortable with dark coloured clothes
in the winter. Light coloured clothes reflect most of the heat that falls on them and, therefore, we feel
more comfortable wearing them in the summer.
Questions: What is the Relation between Celsius, Fahrenheit and Kelvin scales?
Since the range of temperature from ice-point to steam-point is equal in all the three scales, 100
centigrade degrees = (212 - 32) or 180 Fahrenheit degrees = (373 - 273) or 100 absolute degrees.
We consider three thermometers in the above three scales are dipped simultaneously in a liquid of
certain temperature.
Let the temperatures recorded in the Celsius, Fahrenheit and Kelvin thermometers respectively be C, F
and K.
Now it can be proved that C / 5 = F- 32 / 9 = K- 273 /5
Questions: The quantity of heat absorbed or given out by a substance during a thermal change depends
on what factors?
The quantity of heat absorbed or given out by a substance during a thermal change depends on
(a) mass,
(b) difference of temperature and
(c) Specific heat of the material of the substance.
(a) Mass: A larger mass of a substance absorbs or gives out more heat than a smaller mass of it for a
certain change of temperature. So, if 'H' be the quantity of heat absorbed or given out by a substance of
mass 'm’ for a given change of temperature, H = m.
(b) Temperature: The heat absorbed or released by a certain quantity of a given substance increases or
decreases accordingly as the difference between the initial and final temperatures is large and small.
Thus, H= (T-t) where, (T-t) is the difference between the initial and the final temperatures of the body.
(c) Specific heat: This is a fundamental property of matter. An equal mass of different materials absorb
or give out different quantities of heat, even if they are heated or cooled through the same range of
temperature.This is also called specific heat capacity (abbreviated as SHC) in S.I. system.
Heat (H) absorbed or given out by body of mass (m) for rise or fall of temperature through t is given by
H = mst.
Questions: State similarities between the laboratory thermometer and the clinical thermometer
1. Laboratory thermometer and the clinical thermometer consist of a long, narrow, uniform glass tube.
2. Laboratory thermometer and the clinical thermometer have a bulb containing mercury at the end of
the tube.
3. Laboratory thermometer and the clinical thermometer are marked with Celsius scale on the glass
tube.
Questions: Discuss why wearing more layers of clothing during winter keeps us warmer than wearing
just one thick piece of clothing.
In between the layers of cloths there is trapped air. As air is bad conductor of heat so the out side low
temperature do not get transferred to body as well as prevent our body heat to escape out side. Hence
more layers of cloths keep us warmer during cold winter.
Questions: In places of hot climate it is advised that the outer walls of houses be painted white. Explain.
In places of hot climate it is advised that the outer walls of houses be painted white because a light
colour absorb very less radiant heat and we feel comfortable inside such houses due to lower
temperature inside house.
Questions: Why stainless steel cooking utensils are usually provided with copper bottoms?
The reason for this could be that copper is the best conductor of heat than the stainless steel.
Heat
Q1. Fill in the blanks.
The hotness of an object is determined by its temperature.
Temperature is measured in degree celsius.
A cold steel spoon is dipped in a cup of hot milk. It transfers heat to its other end by the process
of conduction.
Land breeze blows during night.
Sea breeze blows during day.
Dark coloured clothes are preferred during winter.
Poor conductors are known as insulators.
Q2. True/False
Temperature of boiling water cannot be measured by a clinical thermometer. True
Medium is required for transfer of heat by the process of radiation. False
Clothes of dark colours absorb heat better than clothes of light colours. True
Light coloured clothes are preferred during summer. True
We should hold the thermometer by the bulb while holding it. False
The bulb of laboratory thermometer should not touch the bottom or the sides of the
container. True
Q15. Will heat transfer if the temperature of two objects is the same?
Ans. Heat will not be transferred if the temperature of two objects is the same.
Q16. What should be the level of mercury in the clinical thermometer before use?
Ans. Mercury level should be below 35°C.
Q27. One litre of water at 30°C is mixed with one litre of water at 50°C. The temperature of the mixture
will be
(a) 80°C (b) more than 50°C but less than 80°C
(c) 20°C (d) between 30°C and 50°C.
Ans. (d) between 30°C and 50°C.
Q28. Why does the mercury not fall or rise in a clinical thermometer when taken out of the mouth?
Ans. Clinical thermometer has kink near the bulb prevents mercury level from falling on its own.
Q29. Why clinical thermometer cannot be used to measure high temperatures?
Ans. Clinical thermometer cannot be used to measure high temperatures because the range of this
thermometer is from 35°C to 42°C only.
Q31. What is the concern associated with the use of mercury thermometer?
Ans. There is a lot of concern over the use of mercury in thermometers. Mercury is a toxic substance
and is very difficult to dispose of if a thermometer breaks.
Q33. In places of hot climate it is advised that the outer walls of houses be painted white. Explain.
Ans. In places of hot climate it is advised that the outer walls of houses be painted white because light
color reflects most of the heat that falls on them and thus keep the house cool.
Q34. Is it possible to construct buildings that are not affected much by heat and cold outside?
Ans. This can be done by constructing outer walls of buildings so that they have trapped layers of air.
One way of doing this is to use hollow bricks, which are available these days.
Q37. Discuss why wearing more layers of clothing during winter keeps us warmer than wearing just one
thick piece of clothing.
Ans. Wearing more layers of clothing during winter keeps us warmer than wearing just one thick piece
of clothing because air get trapped in between the layers of clothing and being a bad conductor of heat,
prevents the flow of heat from our body to the cold surroundings.
Q38. When we come out in the sun, we feel warm. How does the heat from the sun reach us?
Ans. It cannot reach us by conduction or convection as there is no medium such as air in most part of
the space between the earth and the sun. From the sun the heat comes to us by another process known as
radiation. The transfer of heat by radiation does not require any medium.
Q39. In summer we prefer light-coloured clothes and in winter we usually wear dark-coloured clothes.
Why is it so?
Ans. Dark surfaces absorb more heat and, therefore, we feel comfortable with dark coloured clothes in
the winter. Light coloured clothes reflect most of the heat that falls on them and, therefore, we feel more
comfortable wearing them in the summer.
Q44. A wooden spoon is dipped in a cup of ice cream. Its other end
(a) becomes cold by the process of conduction.
(b) becomes cold by the process of convection.
(c) becomes cold by the process of radiation.
(d) does not become cold.
Ans. (d) does not become cold.
Q45. Stainless steel pans are usually provided with copper bottoms. The reason for this could be that
(a) copper bottom makes the pan more durable.
(b) such pans appear colourful.
(c) copper is a better conductor of heat than the stainless steel.
(d) copper is easier to clean than the stainless steel.
Ans. (c) copper is a better conductor of heat than the stainless steel.
Q46. State the similarities and differences between the laboratory thermometer and the clinical
thermometer.
Ans. Similarities
Both thermometers consist of a long, narrow, uniform glass tube.
Both have a bulb at one end. This bulb contains mercury.
Both have celsius scale.
Differences
A clinical thermometer reads temperature from 35°C to 42°C whereas the range of a laboratory
thermometer is generally from –10°C to 110°C.
A clinical thermometer has a kink in it whereas there is no kink in laboratory thermometer.
Q47. What are the precautions that need to be observed while reading a clinical thermometer?
Ans. Precautions to be observed while reading a clinical thermometer
Thermometer should be washed before and after use, preferably with an antiseptic solution.
Ensure that before use the mercury level is below 35°C.
Read the thermometer keeping the level of mercury along the line of sight.
Handle the thermometer with care. If it hits against some hard object, it can break.
Don’t hold the thermometer by the bulb while reading it.
Q49. Why can't we use a laboratory thermometer to measure human body temperature?
Ans. We can’t use a laboratory thermometer to measure human body temperature because the range of a
laboratory thermometer is high generally from –10°C to 110°C while the normal body temperature of
human body is 37°C. Moreover, a laboratory thermometer does not have a kink, so the mercury falls on
its own upon removing it from the body orifice. Thus, it does not give accurate temperature of the
human body.