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Lesson 170 of 500 · Extra Passages
⭐ 30 XPThermal Energy Part 3
📖Story Brief #170
Thermal energy is the energy that comes from the heat of an object.
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Thermal energy is the energy that comes from the heat of an object. It is caused by the movement of tiny particles called atoms and molecules. When these particles move faster, they create more thermal energy, which we feel as heat. For example, when you heat water on a stove, the thermal energy increases as the water molecules move more quickly. This is why the water gets hot and eventually boils! Thermal energy can be transferred from one object to another through conduction, convection, or radiation. Conduction happens when two objects touch, like a metal spoon in a hot pot. Convection occurs in fluids, like when warm air rises and cooler air sinks. Radiation is the transfer of heat through space, such as when the sun warms your skin. Understanding thermal energy helps us grasp how heat affects our everyday lives.
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1 of 2What causes thermal energy?
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