Heat and the Changing States of Matter

Students' understanding of the significance of energy transformations in everyday life is enhanced as the program demonstrates the thermal conductivity of various materials, and the movement of heat through solids, liquids, and gases by convection, conduction and radiation. Students learn how thermal energy causes matter to change states, expand, and contract. The heat of fusion and heat of vaporization are examined, along with the measurement of thermal energy in calories, and the concepts of kinetic and potential energy. Scenes of steel mills, solar and geothermal power plants, and wind farms illustrate these concepts.