Text D Energy Flow 10.2 Thermal Energy Transfer Flashcards
(104 cards)
What percentage of Earth’s surface is covered with water?
Nearly 70 percent
What plays a major role in the absorption and distribution of thermal energy on a large scale on Earth?
Water
What is specific heat capacity?
The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 g of a substance by 1°C
What is the formula to calculate the amount of heat (Q) required?
Q = mcΔT
In the formula Q = mcΔT, what does ‘m’ represent?
Mass in grams (g)
In the formula Q = mcΔT, what does ‘c’ represent?
Specific heat capacity in J/g°C
In the formula Q = mcΔT, what does ‘ΔT’ represent?
Change in temperature in °C
If initial and final temperatures are given, how do you calculate ΔT?
ΔT = T2 - T1
What is the specific heat capacity of pure water?
4.19 J/g°C
What is the specific heat capacity of steam?
2.02 J/g°C
What is the specific heat capacity of ice?
2.00 J/g°C
What is the specific heat capacity of sea water?
3.89 J/g°C
What is the specific heat capacity of dry air?
1.00 J/g°C
What is the specific heat capacity of moist air?
1.15 J/g°C (varies)
True or False: Water has a higher specific heat capacity than air.
True
What are the three basic mechanisms of energy transfer?
Conduction, convection, and radiation
Fill in the blank: The atmosphere absorbs _______ radiation as the principal source of energy.
solar
What is the significance of specific heat capacity in relation to thermal energy?
It influences how substances absorb and distribute thermal energy
How does the specific heat capacity of moist air compare to dry air?
Moist air has a higher specific heat capacity than dry air
Why might the air in the Atacama Desert be cool and dry despite proximity to the ocean?
Low moisture content in the air
What does rearranging an equation help with in problem-solving?
It simplifies substitution of numbers for variables
What is the specific heat capacity of moist air compared to dry air?
Slightly greater than that of dry air
This means that moist air can store more heat energy than dry air.
What is the range of water vapor content in air?
Almost none to five percent of the mass of the air
This variability affects the specific heat capacity of moist air.
What does the symbol A (delta) represent in science?
A change or calculated difference
For example, AT indicates a change in temperature.