Physics unit 1

Energy transfer by heating

Infrared radiation (1.1)

Every object emits infrared radiation. Infrared radiation is electromagnetic

waves between visible light and microwaves in the electromagnetic
spectrum.
The hotter an object is the more infrared radiation it emits. We can use
special cameras to see animals in the dark that can detect infrared
radiation. Living things tend to have a much warmer body rather the
environment, so they are much easier to see.
The electromagnetic spectrum consists of radio waves, microwaves,
infrared radiation, visible light and ultraviolet and x-rays. Electromagnetic
waves are electrical and magnetic waves that travel through space.
The sun emits all kinds of electromagnetic radiation but our earths
atmosphere blocks out most of the radiation that would have us. However
it doesnt block out infrared radiation from the sun.
Infrared radiation and light with short wavelength emit from the sun and
can pass through the earths atmosphere that then heats up the objects in
the earths atmosphere
Infrared radiation from the warm objects is trapped in the earths
atmosphere because the objects emit infrared radiation that have short
wavelengths so they could pass through and escape the earths
atmospheres.

Surface and radiation (1.2)

Light and shiny outer surfaces emit much less radiation than a dark matt
surface. For example rescue teams usually give survivors shiny and light
blankets because their surface doesnt emit infrared radiation as much so
less heat is released keeping the victim warm.
Dark, matt surfaces are better at emitting than light and shiny surfaces
Matt surfaces have a lot of cavities so when radiation is reflected it is
reflected twice off the surface and so it absorbs more radiation
Smooth surfaces only have one direct reflection hit it then absorbs and
reflect back out in away from the surface in the same spot, so not as much
radiation is absorbed. So shin and smooth objects reflect more and absorb
less than dark and matt surfaces.
So to sum up dark and matt surfaces emit and absorb radiation better
And shiny smooth surfaces reflect radiation better

States of matter (1.3)

The particles in a solid are tightly help together, next to each other
in a fixed positions, they vibrate about their fixed positions so the
solid keeps its own shape. Solids have the least amount of energy
due to the lack of movement between the particles.

The particles in a liquid are in contact with each other, they move
around randomly and so they dont have their own fixed shape
and so liquids can flow. Liquids have more energy than solids due
to the increased amount of collision between the particles.

The particles in a gas are much more further from each other than
in a liquid they move around more randomly and much faster.
Gases have more energy than liquids due to the increased amount
of collision because the particles are faster. But because the
particles are further apart so the density of the gas is much lower
than the other states.

Conduction (1.4)

We need to know what materials are the best conductor (energy transfer
of particle to particle) and the best insulator (material that is a poor
conductor)
We can test for the best conductor by having three wax rods of different
material and putting a thin layer of wax at the each of each one, then
burning the three rods at the other end of the wax at the same time, to
see which material conducts the best. The rod that has the most melted
wax is the best conductor.
Metal conduct energy better than non-metals
Copper conducts better than steel
Wood conducts better than glass
To test for the best insulator you can use two or more material to insulate
a beaker of water with the same volume and use a thermometer to
measure the starting temperature and the finishing temperature. The
beaker that that had the leas