Heat flows from hot to cold, so says the second Law of Thermodynamics. Why do we spend so much money trying to stop heat from flowing? Think about winter...during a cold winter when the temperature is down near 5 degrees F. Could we survive outside? No! Way! Our blood would freeze at 32 degrees F! So we invented coats to prevent the heat of our bodies flowing out into the cold! A coat is good, but it's only 5 degrees! What would be better? A house of course! A house would allow us to trap heat inside and we could finally get warm. Next comes summer, the snow melts and the temperature outside is like 98 degrees F. Could we survive outside for very long in the Sun with radiation waves pounding us until our skin is red and blistered? No! Way! The heat from our body rises as the temperature outside rises so we can be at equilibrium with the environment. I don't know about you, but my body doesn't feel very good over 100 degrees F. So we invented clothing to protect us from radiation, fans to blow the heat away from our bodies and houses with air conditioning! Understanding how heat flows helps us to have a better, more comfortable life. Scientists and engineers have already figured out ways they can trap heat and use the energy. How about a solar grill? A solar bike...minimal pedaling! Solar night light. All of these engineering designs and projects are ways to take heat and use it for something else. There are too many ideas to list! When we get cold or hot, there are an amazing amount of engineering designs to help us be comfortable and use that heat produced or reflected towards something else! Energy is a form of matter... We can play with three forms of it, if we understand how energy flows...from hot to cold.
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Mrs. TaylorI love science! Everything about the world is interesting and never boring. I love to study plants, animals, insects, and people. My favorite subjects are my students who are the most unique organisms on the planet! Categories |