PETIT SEMINAIRE HIGHER SEC SCHOOL- PUDUCHERRY

SCIENCE NOTES: LESSON-6 HEAT AND TEMPERATURE

A. Choose the correct option.

1. The lower fixed point of the Kelvin scale is K.
a. 32 b. 0 c. 273 d. 100
2. Which of the following shows heat transfer by conduction?
a. Metal utensil b. Wooden log c. Hydrogen gas d. Water
3. Which of these is not an insulator?
a. Glass b. Stone c. Rubber d. Iron
4. Heat is transferred between objects that are not in physical contact by __________
a. reflection b. radiation c. convection d. conduction.
5. Hot water kept in a container cools down after some time by __________
a. radiation b. convection c. reflection d. conduction

B. Fill in the blanks using the words given in the box.

1. The Kelvin scale of temperature is used for scientific purposes.
2. A temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit is equal to 37 degrees Celsius.
3. Mercury is used in the bulb of the thermometer.
4. An exhaust fan cools a room by convection.
5. The outer plastic casing of a thermos flask reduces the loss of heat due conduction.

C. Give reasons for each of the following.

1. A clinical thermometer is given a few jerks before it is used to take a person’s temperature.
The thermometer is given a jerk or shakes to force the mercury back into the bulb. It is then
washed with an antiseptic solution and stored carefully.
2. Gases are not good conductors of heat.
Conduction depends on how closely the particles of the substance are packed together. The
molecules in gases are the least bound, which is why gases are poor conductors of heat.
3. Woolen clothes insulate us from the cold.
Air is a very good insulator. The fibres of woolen coats and jackets trap air between them,
insulating the body and preventing the loss of heat.
4. Room heaters are usually installed at the ground level.
A room heater is usually installed at the level of the ground. The cool air near the ground gets
heated and rises. In turn, the cold air near the ceiling rushes down to fill the empty space. This continued
movement of hot and cold air sets up a convection current, thereby effectively heating the entire room.
5. Buildings are often painted white.
The walls and roofs of buildings are often painted white (or in light colors). This keeps the roofs
and walls cool during summer because white is a good reflector of heat.

D. Answer the following questions in one word or a sentence.

1. Which scale of temperature is used in India?
Celsius scale
2. What is the working principle of a liquid thermometer?
The liquid expands on getting heated or due to the rise in temperature.
3. What is the average temperature of the human body in various scales?
37 degrees Celsius and 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit
4. What is conduction?
The transfer of heat from a hotter object to a colder object when they are in contact with each other is
called conduction.
5. In which states of matter does convection take place?
Convection takes place in gases or liquids.
E. Answer the following questions in brief.
1. State two important characteristics of heat energy.
Two important characteristics of heat energy are:
1) The flow of heat energy continues until both objects attains the same temperature.
2) The transfer of heat can take place in three modes—conduction, convection and radiation.
2. Why do clinical thermometers measure a limited range of temperatures?
A clinical thermometer is used to measure the temperature of the human body. Its temperature range is
from 35 °C to 42 °C because the temperature of the human body varies only within this range. The average
normal body temperature of a healthy person is 37 °C.
3. Write a short note on clinical thermometers.
The capillary tube of the clinical thermometer has a small bend near the bulb. It prevents the mercury
from flowing back into the bulb on its own before the temperature reading is taken.
1) To measure the temperature, the thermometer is placed the tongue or under the arm of the person.
The mercury in the bulb expands due to the heat from body, rises in the capillary tube.
2) When the thermometer is removed from contact with the body, the mercury in the bulb cools and
contracts.
4. Why do we install air conditioners high up in a room?
An air-conditioner is installed high up on the wall so that it cools the warm air that rises. The cooled air
then comes down setting up a convection current that cools the room.
5. Why do we wear dark-colored clothes in winter and light-colored clothes in summer?
We prefer to wear light-coloured clothes in summer as they reflect more heat from sunlight than they absorb.
We wear dark-coloured clothes in winter as they absorb more heat from sunlight and help to keep us warm.
F. Answer the following questions in detail.
1. What is temperature? Describe the three main scales of temperature with the units, fixed points and
intervals of each.
The degree of hotness or coldness of an object is called its temperature. An object at a higher temperature is
hotter and contains more heat than an object at a lower temperature. Temperature is measured using different
temperature scales. The commonly used scales of temperature are:
1) Celsius scale
2) Fahrenheit scale
3) Kelvin scale.
Celsius scale:
 Celsius scale was developed by the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius.
 The unit degree Celsius or °C.
 The lower fixed point is taken as 0 °C and the upper fixed point is taken as 100 °C.
 The interval consists of 100 divisions, where each division is equal to 1 °C.
Fahrenheit scale:
 Fahrenheit scale of temperature was developed by the Dutch physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit.
 The unit of this scale is degree Fahrenheit or °F.
 The lower fixed point is taken as 32 °F and the upper fixed point is taken as 212 °F.
 The interval consists of 180 divisions, where each division is equal to 1 °F.
Kelvin scale:
 Kelvin scale is also called absolute scale of temperature.
 The unit of this scale is kelvin or K.
 The lower fixed point is taken as 273 K and the upper fixed point is taken as 373 K.
 The interval consists of 100 divisions, where each division is equal to 1 K.
2. Write any four practical applications of transfer of heat by conduction.
1) Metals such as aluminium, brass, steel and copper are used to make kitchen utensils as they heat up quickly.
2) The handles of kitchen utensils are made of insulators such as wood and Bakelite so that hot utensils can be
handled easily.
3) Insulators such as plastics, cement or wood are used to make benches in public places so that they do not
become either too hot or too cold.
4) Water storage tanks on rooftops are made of plastic to keep the water from getting too hot or too cold.
3. Explain with the help of labeled diagrams how land and sea breezes are formed.

During the day, the air above the land gets warmed by
sunlight and rises upwards. Meanwhile, since water takes
longer to heat, the air above the sea is colder. This colder air
flows towards the land to take the place of hot air that has
risen. This breeze that blows from the sea to the land during
the daytime forms the sea breeze.

At night, the land cools much faster than the sea. Therefore,
the air above the sea is warmer than the air above the land.
This air above the sea therefore rises and the colder air above
the land flows in to take its place. This breeze that blows from
the land to the sea at night forms the land breeze.

4. State the differences between three different modes of transfer of heat.

Conduction Convection Radiation

The transfer of heat takes place The transfer of heat takes place The transfer of heat takes place
without the actual movement of with the actual movement of through waves. No movement of
molecules. They merely vibrate in molecules. molecules is involved.
their fixed positions.
Heat is transferred between two Heat is transferred within a liquid or Heat is transferred without any
solid objects in contact with each a gas. medium and can take place even in
other. vacuum.
It is generally a slow process. It is faster than conduction. This is the fastest mode of heat
transfer.
It is used in heating metals, cooking, It is used in cooling air. It also Sun’s radiation reaches Earth by
etc. causes land breeze and sea breeze. radiation.

5. How does a thermos flask help to keep a hot drink warm? Draw a labeled diagram of a thermos flask.

A thermos flask consists of a double-walled container made of glass or stainless steel. Both the walls are
polished, so they are shiny. They prevent heat loss through radiation by reflecting any radiated heat back into the
flask. The space between the walls is vacuum. This prevents heat loss through convection as there are no air
molecules to carry out the transfer of heat. The mouth of the flask is closed with either cork or a plastic cap. The
glass bottle is placed in a metal or plastic outer casing that prevents the loss of heat through conduction. Corks or
other insulating materials support the glass bottle within the casing. The substance within the flask thus maintains
its temperature for a long time.