Kinetic Theory of Matter and the Study of Heat (Research Paper Sample)

Research Paper: Kinetic Theory of Matter and the Study of Heat
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Kinetic Theory of Matter and the Study of Heat
The kinetic theory of matter states that all matter comprises of small particles that differ in terms of the energy present. The energy present within the matter determines the type of matter and its properties (What is heat, 2010). There are three types of matter namely, solids liquids, and gases. The liquids and gases form the fluids. These different types of matter differ in relation to the vibrational tendencies of their particles. In solids, the particles are closely packed thus the wavelength of their vibrations is the least in comparison to the vibration wavelength of liquids and gases.
Therefore, the particles that make up a solid demonstrate simple harmonic motion because they vibrate along a constant equilibrium point. The particles that make up a liquid are loosely packed thus the wavelength of their vibration is the second largest in comparison to the other sets of matter. For the gases, the particles vibrate in random direction without a point of origin. This is because the particles move much more freely because the bonding energy amongst the particles is the least in comparison to the bonding energy of other two sets of matter (Moran, Shapiro, Boettner & Bailey, 2010).
Heat is a form of energy. The heat energy contained in matter determines the vibrational tendencies of the particles within the matter. The relation between heat and the kinetic theory of matter is that, heat influences the vibrational characteristics of the particles comprising of mater thus altering their physical characteristics. To illustrate this relationship, an experiment of how solid ice changes its states gives the relationship perfectly. Heating up solid ice will cause it to melt in to water. Continued heating of the resultant water will result in evaporation of the water in to water vapor. These changes are due to the increasing vibration of the particles comprising the solid ice. The heat energy breaks up the bonding energies holding together the solid ice thus resulting in liquid water. Further heating results in water vapor because the particles gain the energy to vibrate at distances further apart from one another. The various sources of heat include the chemical energy in food, light energy from the sun, friction, electrical energy and mechanical energy.
Temperature refers to the degree of hotness or coldness of a substance. The degree of hotness or coldness of a substance is in direct relation to the amount of heat energy present in that substance. Temperature in itself relates to a conventional set of degrees determined using the properties of water. Therefore, there are two common ways of measuring temperature; one is degree centigrade while the other is kelvins. The zero degrees centigrade are two hundred and seventy three kelvins.
Therefore, zero degrees centigrade does not imply absence of heat energy. However, at zero kelvins, there is absolutely ...