Temperature

I recently saw a fascinating programme on BBC television about Temperature, which is defined as ‘the hidden energy inside matter’. I learnt a lot of amazing scientific facts, which I was delighted to get to know. Here are some of them:

Fire was the first source of heat mankind learnt to control. Wood changes into flames and generates heat: a brief spark starts to release the energy within the wood.

Heat propelled the industrial revolution by learning to use steam. When the water and then its vapour are heated, the molecules push outwards and exert pressure.

Heat energy is about the movement of molecules: this movement has the power to transform things in many different ways. For example, when you heat up pieces of malachite, many atoms of oxygen fly away and the rock changes into copper.

And so on and so forth….