IB Physics Sub-topic B1 Definitions

This page contains our IB Physics definitions for sub-topic B1. By learning each one of these definitions, you will fully cover the content for IB Physics 'Thermal energy transfers'.
Albedo

It is the the ratio of reflected power to total incident power

Black body

It is a perfect emitter, absorber, and radiator

Black body radiation

It is the radiation emitted from a black body

Conduction

It is the transfer of thermal energy via direct collisions between molecules, thus passing kinetic energy from one molecule to another

Convection

It is the movement of thermal energy in a fluid

Convection current

The cyclical movement of expanding and rising hot and less dense fluid and the condensation and sinking of cold and denser fluid

Emissivity

It is the ratio of emission intensity of the object to the emission intensity of a black body

heat

It is the total kinetic energy of all particles in an object

internal energy

It is the total energy of all particles in an object

Radiation

It is the emission of electromagnetic waves from an object

specific heat capacity

The measure of how much energy a unit mass of a substance takes to be raised by 1K/1°C

specific latent heat

It is the energy absorbed or released by a kg of a substance during a phase change

specific latent heat of fusion

It is the energy absorbed by a kg of substance when it changes from solid to liquid

specific latent heat of vaporization

It is the energy absorbed by a kg of substance when it changes from liquid to gas

temperature

It is the average kinetic energy of an object's particles

thermal capacity

It is the energy required to raise an object's temperature by 1 K

Thermal conductor

It is a material that is able to conduct thermal energy well

Thermal energy transfer

It is the movement of thermal energy from a hot object to a cold object

thermal equilibrium

It is the state at which two objects are at the same temperature

Thermal equilibrium

It is the state of absorbing power at the rate of emission to maintain a constant temperature

Thermal insulator

It is a material that is not able to conduct thermal energy well

Thermal radiation

It is the emission of infrared waves from an object

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