Lesson 2.

1: Meaning and Sources of Heat and its

Temperature Scale; Last Element: Oxygen
Discussion

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Figure 1. Heat

Figure 3 represent the heat in which the energy possessed by material or substance due to
molecular activity. In physics, heat transfers energy from one part of a substance to another or
from one body to another under a temperature difference. Heat is energy is in transit; it always
flows from a substance at a better temperature to the substance at a lower temperature to
elevate the latter's temperature and to lower that of the previous substance, provided the
degree of the body remains constant. Heat does not ensue lower to a better temperature unless
another variety of energy transfer is often present.

Temperature is an intensity measurement, with units in degrees on the Celsius (centigrade),

Fahrenheit, or Kelvin scales.
Heat could be a measurement of quantity and is given in British Thermal Unit (BTU). One Btu is
that the amount of heat required to boost one pound of water one F (1'F).
A fire investigator must understand and recognize how heat is produced and transferred and how
it applies to the fire's ignition and development.
Heat should not be turbid with temperature, which measures the relative amount of heat energy
contained within a given substance.
Temperature is that the measurement of the degree of thermal agitation of molecules, the
hotness or coldness of something. A thermometer is an instrument accustomed to measure
temperature and is usually expressed in °C, °F, and °K.

Heat is one of the foremost basic terms. It's produced from the breaking and formation of
chemical bonds. In a very chemical action, atoms don't seem to be lost but only redistributed.
Molecules absorb energy where the chemical bonds are broken apart and extricate energy to
reform the bonds. Each of the oxidation reactions gives off more energy than they absorb, which
is released within the variety of heat, light, noise, shock, or a few combinations; it will depend on
the single- or double-bonding that occurs when the molecules reform. Most reactions are
exothermic, which implies they have little energy to urge started (a lower ignition or kindling
temperature), and a few reactions are endothermic, which implies they have more energy to
induce started (a booster).

Ignition Energy and Ignition Temperature

The ignition temperature is that the minimum temperature a substance must attain before
ignition can occur. Many variables must be taken under consideration for a good range of
circumstances. Apart from some solid materials that may burn at the surface, like coal or
magnesium, all other solid fuels must be heated sufficiently to release vapors; the vapors ignite
and burn. Liquids are the same: mostly, they have to be heated to release vapors that, in turn, are
often ignited at the correct temperature for that vapor. Some liquids already produce sufficient
vapors at their ignition temperature below ambient air temperature. These fuels, such as gasoline,
can ignite if in the right mixture with air and heat.

SOURCES OF HEAT

Heat is a factor in providing sufficient energy to extricate vapors from liquids and solids. It can
also be a reason in providing the energy to cause the ignition of a fire. Heat also promotes the
flame spread and subsequent fire growth.

Mechanical

Mechanical heat is the heat of friction. Two or more objects rubbing together produce friction.
Friction by itself doesn't mean there'll be a hearth. Factors like the roughness of the surface, the
categories of materials rubbing together, dryness of the materials in question, and the speed they
are available in grips are variables that the investigator must consider. For instance, two smooth
pieces of plastic coated with a silicone lubricant slowly rubbed along with little pressure will
produce heat, but they'll not going to produce enough energy to start out a fire.

Example:

Truck brakes create mechanical friction. Therefore, surfaces of the materials and the fact that
they are designed to slow down the movement rate, combined with the pressure of the brake
cylinder they will do as they are designed regularly. Nevertheless, with a mechanical failure of
misalignment or when the cylinder creates pressure (gets stuck) when not in action during a high
rate of speed, pushing the brake pads together, sufficient energy can be generated to ignite
nearby combustibles in the form of plastic, grease, and rubber components or even debris
caught in the workings. Brake fires by themselves may cause only local damage. Nevertheless, in
some circumstances, they can result in the fire's extension into the vehicle, causing massive
destruction of the vehicle and its contents.

Chemical

Is a mixture of two or more chemicals can create heat (exothermic reaction) and, in some
circumstances, may heat sufficiently to cause ignition. Although not an everyday circumstance,
chemical heat will be found in industrial applications, and even some household chemicals can
create a typical reaction.

Chemical heat may also be an arsonist's tool and might even be used as a time delay. Despite
everything under the circumstances, investigators need to collect evidence in the form of debris
for analysis and possible examples of chemicals for further analysis.

Spontaneous heating can be one form of heating that can occur without an external source of
energy, and it can also occur from chemical and biological action. Biological items like damp hay
or manure or sawdust give off heat as they break down and decay. If these products are well
insulated in order that the heat's dissipation is prevented, the heath can increase to the
purpose of reaching the ignition temperature of the fabric.

Electrical

Electricity is all around. You just need to lose electricity to work out what proportion you rely
upon it. Electrical devices and electricity are heat producers, whether intentionally or as a by-
product of their workings, as in electric baseboard heaters. Fires caused by electrical devices may
result from malfunction due to poor installation, improper construction, or poor design. Even as
likely, a failure can occur from overuse of associated appliances and electricity. Investigators
must bear in mind that merely because electricity is recurring doesn't mean that it is responsible
for the fire.

Electrical sources will be as small as a static electrical arc or as massive as a lightning bolt.
Investigators most frequently are available in contact with the opposite sorts of electrical
heating, which are generally human-made. Resistance heating has two forms that occur is that
the results of an appliance or fixture design. This could be a heater or a light-weight bulb. Heaters
may heat rooms or can cook food. Then, there's resistance heating within the kind of an
appliance or fixture failure when it doesn't act as designed, manufactured, or used. This
unintended resistance heating is quite sufficient in igniting close combustibles.

The electrical wiring designed to serve energy throughout a structure can fail within the sort of an
overcurrent or an overload. Although this could even be a style of resistance, it may create arcs
or sparks capable of being an ignition source.

Nuclear

The first generation to handle the term nuclear thought of it only within the aspect of an
unbelievably devastating bomb. Today's populace remains awake to the military use of
radioactive materials. However, nuclear energy is employed within the making of electricity and
industrial applications and medical treatments.
THREE WAYS TO TRANSFER HEAT

Heat transfer has the physical methods by which energy within the kind of heat is transported
between bodies is radiation and conduction. The third method, which also involves the motion of
matter, is named convection.

Conduction

Heat is also conducted from one body to a different by direct contact of the two bodies or an
intervening heat-conducting medium. The number of heat that may be transferred and its travel
rate depends upon the conductivity of the fabric through which the heat is passing. Not all
materials have identical heat conductivity. Aluminum, copper, and iron are good conductors.
Fibrous materials, like felt, cloth, and paper, are poor conductors.

Example:

Touching a hot gas stove, where upon touching the gas stove's surface, the pain that felt on it is
the first result of conducted heat passing from the stove directly to your hand.

Convection

Convection is the shifting of heat by the movement of liquid or air. Heat is shifted by convection
is chiefly responsible for the spread of fire in structures.

Example:

The spread of fire through shafts, stairwells, and elevator corregidors, through attics and between
walls, is usually caused by the convection of heat currents and has more influence on fire attack
and ventilation positions, whether radiation or conduction.

Convected currents are generally the reason for heat movement from floor to floor, room to room,
and area to area.

Radiation

The warmness of the sun is felt soon after it rises. When the sun sets, the world begins to cool
down with similar rapidity. We carry an umbrella to shade our bodies from the heat of the sun.
A sprig of water between a firefighter and a fire will lessen the heat reaching the firefighter.
Although air could be a poor conductor, it's evident that heat can travel where
matter doesn't exist. This method of heat transmission is called radiation of heatwaves.

Therefore, conduction requires physical contact between bodies or portions of bodies

exchanging heat, but radiation doesn't entail contact or the presence of any matter between the
bodies. Convection occurs when a liquid or gas is connected with a solid body at a
particular temperature and is often among the liquid or gas's motion. The science coping with the
transfer of warmth between bodies is named heat transfer.
Temperature Scales

Five types of temperature scales that are in used nowadays:

1. Celsius – has a melting point of 0°C and a boiling point of 100°C. It's widely used
throughout the world, particularly for scientific works.

2. Fahrenheit – is employed mostly in English-speaking countries for purposes apart

from scientific works and based on the mercury thermometer.

During this scale, the melting point of water is 32°F, and therefore the boiling point is 212
°F.

3. Kelvin or Absolute – it's the foremost commonly used thermodynamic system of

measurement. Zero is defined as the temperature of temperature, - 273.15 °c, or –459.67 °F.

4. Rankine – is another graduated table employing temperature as its lowest point during
which each degree of temperature is corresponding to one degree on the Fahrenheit scale.
The melting point of water under this scale is 492 °R, and therefore the boiling point is 672 °R.

5. International scale – In 1933, 31 nations' scientists adopted a new international

temperature scale with additional fixed temperature points, supported the Kelvin scale and
thermodynamic principles. The international scale relies on the property of electrical resistively,
with a platinum wire because of the average for temperature between –190 ° and 660°C.

LAST ELEMENT: OXYGEN

Oxygen, as defined earlier, maybe a colorless, odorless, tasteless, gaseous substance, the
foremost abundant of all elements: it occurs free within the atmosphere, forming one-fifth of its
volume, and together in water, sandstone, limestone, etc.; it's very active, having the ability to
mix with nearly all other elements, and is vital to life processes and combustion.

The joint oxidizing agent is oxygen present in the air. Air composes 21% oxygen, 78% nitrogen,
and 1 % inert gas (principally Argon). 21% of normal oxygen is needed to produce fire in the
presence of fuel and heat. 12% oxygen is insufficient to produce fire, 14-15% oxygen can support
flash point, and 16-21% oxygen can support fire point.