Thermal Energy Question Worksheet
Article Companion Physical Science • Energy & Matter
Thermal Energy Is NOT Temperature
Carefully review the article before answering the questions below.
Name:
Date:
Period:
Part 1: Defining the Difference — Clarify the two key scientific ideas from page 1
- Complete the scientific definitions below based on paragraph 3 of the article:
Temperature
Measure of the:
Thermal Energy
Measure of the:
- What two factors determine the total amount of thermal energy contained in a sample?
Factor 1:
Factor 2:
Part 2: The Ice Cube Mystery — Analyzing the kitchen scenario from page 1 & 2
- You and your brother pour soup from the same pot into a large bowl and a small mug. Both start at the exact same temperature. You drop one identical ice cube into each container.
Key Observation: Once melted, the bowl of soup remains warm, but the mug of soup turns noticeably cold.
Explain why the mug cooled down significantly more than the bowl, even though both ice cubes absorbed the exact same amount of kinetic energy:
- Refer to the diagram on page 2 showing molecules in the bowl versus the mug:
A. Speed of Individual Molecules:
How does the speed of a single molecule in the bowl compare to a single molecule in the mug before adding ice?
B. Total Kinetic Energy:
Why does the bowl have more total kinetic energy if each molecule moves at the same speed?
Amplify Science Reading Companion • "Thermal Energy Is NOT Temperature" Page 1 of 2
Thermal Energy Is NOT Temperature • Student Application Page
Name:
Part 3: The Microwave Twist (Puzzler) — Analyzing page 2, column 1
Suppose you reheat your brother's mug in the microwave until it is steaming hot—much hotter than your bowl of soup.
5a. Which sample's molecules now have a higher average kinetic energy? Check one and state evidence:
The microwaved mug The warm bowl
Evidence from text:
5b. Is it possible for the cooler bowl of soup to STILL have more total thermal energy than the steaming mug? Explain why or why not:
Part 4: Energy Flow & Thermal Equilibrium — Analyzing page 2, column 2
- According to the text, in what direction does energy always transfer between objects?
7a. Defining Equilibrium:
When the soup cools to room temperature, what is true about the average kinetic energy of soup molecules vs. room air molecules?
7b. The Room Air Mystery:
Why does the soup cool down noticeably, while the air in the room shows no noticeable change in temperature?
Part 5: Thermal Truths (True or False) — Circle T or F based on the article's core scientific principles
[ T / F ] Two objects at the same temperature always have the same total thermal energy.
[ T / F ] A giant swimming pool at 20°C contains more thermal energy than a boiling cup of tea at 100°C.
[ T / F ] Thermal energy depends on both the speed of the molecules and how many molecules are present.
Amplify Science Reading Companion • "Thermal Energy Is NOT Temperature" Page 2 of 2
Thermal Energy Answer Key
Teacher Answer Key & Guide Physical Science • Energy & Matter
Thermal Energy Is NOT Temperature
Scoring criteria, exemplar responses, and common misconceptions for student evaluation.
Assessment Target Total Points: 20 pts
Part 1: Defining the Difference [4 Points: 2 pts each]
- Complete the scientific definitions below based on paragraph 3 of the article:
Temperature
(2 pts)
Measure of the:
Average kinetic energy of the molecules in an object or material (how fast molecules are moving on average).
Thermal Energy
(2 pts)
Measure of the:
Total kinetic energy of ALL the molecules in an object or material (sum of every molecule's movement).
- What two factors determine the total amount of thermal energy contained in a sample? [2 Points: 1 pt each]
Factor 1: The average speed/kinetic energy of molecules (Temperature).
Factor 2: The total number of molecules (Mass/Amount of matter).
Part 2: The Ice Cube Mystery [6 Points total]
- Explain why the mug cooled down significantly more than the bowl, even though both ice cubes absorbed the exact same amount of kinetic energy: [4 pts]
Exemplar Student Response:
"Both ice cubes required the same fixed amount of kinetic energy transferred to melt. However, the mug contains far fewer molecules than the bowl, so it had a much smaller total kinetic energy to start with. Losing that energy took a large fraction of the mug's energy, causing a steep drop in average kinetic energy (temperature). In contrast, the bowl contains many more molecules, so the loss was shared across all of them, resulting in a barely noticeable temperature change."
Grading Note: Award 2 pts for recognizing both ice cubes require equal energy transfer; 2 pts for explaining the effect of molecule count on temperature drop.
- Refer to the diagram on page 2 showing molecules in the bowl versus the mug: [2 Points: 1 pt each]
A. Speed of Individual Molecules:
They are moving at the exact same average speed because both started at the same temperature.
B. Total Kinetic Energy:
The bowl has more total molecules; each molecule adds its energy to the overall sum.
Amplify Science Teacher Guide • "Thermal Energy Is NOT Temperature" Answer Key • Page 1 of 2
