What is Heat: Definition and 1000 Discussions

In thermodynamics, heat is energy in transfer to or from a thermodynamic system, by mechanisms other than thermodynamic work or transfer of matter. The various mechanisms of energy transfer that define heat are stated in the next section of this article.
Like thermodynamic work, heat transfer is a process involving more than one system, not a property of any one system. In thermodynamics, energy transferred as heat contributes to change in the system's cardinal energy variable of state, for example its internal energy, or for example its enthalpy. This is to be distinguished from the ordinary language conception of heat as a property of an isolated system.
The quantity of energy transferred as heat in a process is the amount of transferred energy excluding any thermodynamic work that was done and any energy contained in matter transferred. For the precise definition of heat, it is necessary that it occur by a path that does not include transfer of matter.Though not immediately by the definition, but in special kinds of process, quantity of energy transferred as heat can be measured by its effect on the states of interacting bodies. For example, respectively in special circumstances, heat transfer can be measured by the amount of ice melted, or by change in temperature of a body in the surroundings of the system. Such methods are called calorimetry.
The conventional symbol used to represent the amount of heat transferred in a thermodynamic process is Q. As an amount of energy (being transferred), the SI unit of heat is the joule (J).

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  1. S

    Thermodynamics and heat capacity

    Homework Statement A 10.0 g sample of solid platinum is placed in a large, sealed vessel at a sufficiently low pressure that the platinum is able to sublimate directly to a gas. Some thermodynamic properties of platinum at low pressure are given in the following table. Molar mass, M - 195...
  2. J

    Why specific latent heat of vaporisation > fusion?

    1. Homework Statement Homework Equations First law of thermodynamics, ΔU=q+W The Attempt at a Solution Ok so, I know that when liquid evaporates, the change in volume is much greater than that when solid melts. And for both cases, distance of separation of atoms increases too, so PE...
  3. S

    Heat Transfer in a Compound Parabolic Dish

    I'm looking to model the heat transfer by conduction from the aperture to the base of a compound parabolic dish (CPE). Here's what I have so far, thanks to CFDFEAGURU's solution for a cone at https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/heat-transfer-by-conduction-in-a-truncated-cone.368972/ let θ =...
  4. adriplay

    Heat capacity in gas simulation

    I have a simulation with a bunch of particles with volume bouncing around in a box with no interaction between them, a hard-sphere gas. Initially, they all have the same momentum |p|=√(2⋅m⋅2/3⋅k⋅T) to have the average kinetic energy 3/2⋅k⋅T. I'm asked to add a constant energy flux to the system...
  5. O

    A satellite, the sun and the satellites heat protector

    Homework Statement A spacecraft is protected from the Sun’s radiation by a planar baffle whose size is much greater than that of the spacecraft itself. The baffle is aligned perpendicular to the direction of the Sun. Show that the equilibrium temperature of the baffle is...
  6. T

    I left a soda in the car and it still feels cold.

    After a cookout on Saturday, I left two cans of Coca-Cola in my bag. Around Monday morning which is almost two days later, when I left for school, the cans were still cold with moisture on it. The next day, I put another can of Coca-Cola in the car and only left it overnight to see what the...
  7. A

    Heat transferred into a closed system

    So i am making a simple demonstration of ideal gas law using a cylinder piston system, heating the system so the piston is pushed up, i wanted to calculate the heat transferred into the system, will it be Cp(Tf-Ti) or Cp(Tf-Ti)+ work done by the system ?
  8. S

    Why work done on a system causes heat to flow out of it?

    I don't understand how compression of a gas causes heat to flow out of the container of that gas... Could someone please help? Thank you in advance!
  9. G

    Inverse Square Law, Temperature Change, and Heat Source Temp

    I've been trying to wrap my head around the relationship between temperature increase of an object at a distance and temperature of a heat source. From what I've found, the temperature increase of an object from thermal radiation is affected by the inverse square law...
  10. R

    VdP term in definition of constant volume specific heat

    Homework Statement I know that for constant volume ∂q=du and so du=Cv.dT However i don't understand how did we get to ∂q=du by neglecting the vdP term of enthalpy What I am trying to say is, is enthalpy this ∆U+P∂V+V∂P or this ∆U+P∂V? I don't understand since the definition of enthalpy is...
  11. M

    Heat Transfer Coefficients: Free and Forced Convection

    Hi all. I'm currently working on a problem where I have to determine individual and overall heat transfer coefficients for a vertical cylinder with water flowing on the inside and steam on the outside (parallel flow), studying the cases of free and forced convection. I only have four...
  12. E

    How to calculate heat released from friction

    If I wanted to calculate, say, the heat released during space shuttle re-entry, how should I do it? I know they provide the heat on their website, but if I wanted to arrive at the result just through calculation, would that be easy?
  13. L

    Which Container is Hotter After 30s? Exploring Heat Transfer

    Homework Statement In each of the following, state and explain which container will have the hotter liquid after thirty seconds: a) You pour equal amounts of of hot coffee into two cup s from a percolator. The cups are the same general size and shape. One is made from heavy china one is made...
  14. R

    Heat conduction problem in a ring of radius a

    Homework Statement We previously solved the heat conduction problem in a ring of radius a, and the solution is c into the sum, perform the sum first (which is just a geometric series), and obtain the general solution, which should only involve one integral in ϑHomework Equations...
  15. MaxKang

    I Can you have a high temperature with very little heat?

    From what I know, temperature is defined to be the average kinetic energy of molecules within a system while heat is said to be the total kinetic energy of molecules. I know this might be something we can never achieve in real life but here's how my thought process went. Imagine you have a box...
  16. MaxKang

    Sensation of heat, physical explanation?

    I've read some articles online saying that the temperature is a measure of average kinetic energy of molecules so as the temperature increases, more molecules will bump into each other. However, I still don't quite understand why we feel hot when more molecules bump into each other. Is high...
  17. freddie_mclair

    Cryogenic heat exchanger cooling power

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  18. R

    Transient heat transfer in a sphere

    Homework Statement A metal sphere is subjected to a heat flux, 5000 W/m2. It is originally at 20 C. How long does it take to heat to 90 C? D = 5 cm density = 8522 kg/m3 cp = 0.385 kJ/kg-K k = 104 W/m-k Homework Equations rate of heat input = rate of heat accumulation -k*A*dT/dr = m*cp*dT/dt...
  19. P

    Heat equation from Navier Stokes eqns?

    Can you derive the heat conduction equation from the navier stokes equations (particularly the energy eqn)?
  20. K

    Work done by a 20% efficient heat engine

    I had an exam last week and I just got it back today. On the exam was a question that I got wrong even though his wording was terrible (he's from India) and I feel that it was not clearly expressed what he was saying. The question is: "A heat engine is 20% efficient. If it absorbs 500 J of heat...
  21. ckirmser

    Heat of Fusion for Hydrogen: Calculating Distance from 0.10 g Reaction

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  22. E

    Heat Transfer into a 1000L container

    Have been slightly racking my brains trying to remember the basics of this, but have a quick and probably pretty simple heat transfer problem. Was in a discussion Two standard 1000 liters square enclosed plastic HDPE containers (1m x 1m x 1m). One is filled up 800 liters (some air present at...
  23. M

    Heat capacity at constant volume and internal energy

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  24. T

    Why should a heat pump receive low return temperature?

    One is always told that a heat pump (heating water) should receive return water with a temperature as low as possible. I've never really understood why. My initial thought is that if the return is higher, then it's "easier" for the heat pump to heat the water up to whatever supply temperature...
  25. G

    Weak form of Navier-Stokes and heat transfer coupling(COMSOL)

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  26. JulienB

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  27. A

    Is it possible for heat to be a physical form?

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  28. G

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  29. Alfred0812

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  30. Alfreds9

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  31. B

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  32. M

    Heat transfer processes and reversibility

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  33. C

    Rate body temperature increases given rate of heat transfer?

    Homework Statement Suppose you walk into a sauna that has an ambient temperature of 57.0°C. Calculate the rate of heat transfer to you by radiation given your skin temperature is 37.0°C, the emissivity of skin is 0.95, and the surface area of your body is 1.60 m2. I solved this first part and...
  34. Y

    I calculating the heat exhausted from an engine.

    Homework Statement A 112 hp car engine operates at 11% efficiency. Assume the engine's water temperature of 85°C is its cold-temperature (exhaust) reservoir and 445°C is its thermal "intake" temperature (the temperature of the exploding gas-air mixture). (a) What is the ratio of its efficiency...
  35. M

    Heat Equation and Energy Balance

    Hi PF! For the longest time I thought an energy balance and the heat equation were identical procedures. However, recently I saw an example of a steady state, constant property, laminar flow of fluid between two flat surfaces where the top surface moves in the ##x## direction at ##V_1## and we...
  36. ashsully

    Specific Heat & Velocity relationship?

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  37. R

    Heat transfer through AL shield by radiation & convection

    Hi all, I am new here, and want to thank you for help in advance! I am working on a project and need some help - I need to figure out surface temp on an object at some distance from the heat source: I need some help getting started. Is it going to be: Heat transfer (radiation) + Heat...
  38. G

    Wall temperature in heat exchanger

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  39. P

    I Two blackbodies at two foci inside an ellipsoidal shell

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  40. S

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  41. Y

    Specific Heat Capacity Graph Question

    Homework Statement My answer is question 3 part c the graph. SHC = c http://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/61757-question-paper-unit-g484-the-Newtonian-world.pdf [See page 7]Homework Equations E=mcdelta theta Power=Energy/Time Therfroe Power*Time = Mass*c*delta theta. The Attempt at a Solution See in...
  42. M

    How many kg of ice must be dropped to make Tf= 22.7C?

    Homework Statement An insulated beaker with neglible mass contains .3kg of water at a temp of 78.6 C. How many kg of ice at -19.6 C must be dropped into the water to make Tf= 22.7C? Specific heat for water= 4190 J/kgK specific heat for ice= 2100 J/kgK heat of fusion for water= 334kJ/kg...
  43. T

    Need Help in assembling an electrical resistance heater

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  44. L

    Why does heat engine need to do negative work to surround?

    Every thermodynamics cycle needs to do negative work to the environment, which lower its total positive work. For example, in Carnot cycle, the most efficiency possible: 1/ Engine receives heat from hot reservoir, expands and do positive work to surround 2/ Surround does work to engine...
  45. A

    Can the weight of heat be accurately measured in such small increments?

    I read that if the temperature of 1 Kg of gold rises by 10°C its mass increases by 1.4 * 10^-14 kg. Can you please explain how you get such value from E= mc^2? I think the increase corresponds to E = h f =1.53*10*10^36 and since 1 kg has 1.1*10^30 electrons, each one gets 1.4*10*6 h but 10...
  46. S

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  47. A

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  48. B

    Heat of Combustion of N2H4 - Calculating Final Temperature

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  49. Titan97

    Heat generated due to motion of wire in magnetic field

    Homework Statement A wire is moved with constant velocity such that the motion is perpendicular to the length of the wire in a region containing magnetic field perpendicular to the plane of motion. The wire has a resistance R. Will thermel energy be generated in the wire? Homework Equations...
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