Where does heat energy go when dissipated in metal?

In summary, when heat is dissipated into a piece of metal, the potential energy stored in the heat is not lost but rather spread out into a larger volume. This causes the temperature at the original point to decrease while it rises in the material the heat was dissipated into. This is how heat sinks work in electronic equipment. When power transistors generate a lot of heat, a heat sink is necessary to prevent them from burning up. As for capturing the kinetic energy from the atoms as they heat up, there are various heat engines that can convert heat energy into other forms of energy, such as mechanical or electrical energy. Some examples include steam engines, jet engines, and power stations. While there may not be a super efficient way to do
  • #1
Kyle Gray
Gold Member
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When heat is dissipated into a piece of metal(aluminum for example), what happens to the potential energy that was stored in the heat? Does it transform into another form of energy or is it absorbed by the atoms of the metal element?
 
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  • #2
Dissipation means that heat concentrated in a small area gets spread out into a larger area.
The energy hasn't gone away it is just contained in a larger volume
Hence the temperature at the original point falls, while it rises in the material the heat was dissipated into.
This how heat sinks work in electronic equipment.
Power transistors generate a lot of heat and would quickly burn up without a heat sink.
 
  • #3
It turns to kinetic energy, which makes the atoms it's made of vibrate faster.
 
  • #4
rootone said:
Dissipation means that heat concentrated in a small area gets spread out into a larger area.
The energy hasn't gone away it is just contained in a larger volume
Hence the temperature at the original point falls, while it rises in the material the heat was dissipated into.
This how heat sinks work in electronic equipment.
Power transistors generate a lot of heat and would quickly burn up without a heat sink.
I would like to know if there is a super efficient way to capture the kinetic energy from the atoms as they heat up?
 
  • #5
I don't know of a super efficient way, but there are many examples of heat engines which do useful work by converting heat energy to another form.
A steam engine is the most basic, converting (some of) the heat to mechanical energy.
Then there are jet engines which convert heat energy to a linear thrust force.
Power stations use heat to spin turbines resulting in production of electrical energy.
 

1. Where does heat energy go in a closed system?

In a closed system, heat energy is conserved. This means that the total amount of heat energy remains constant and does not disappear. It can be converted into other forms of energy, such as mechanical or electrical, but it cannot be created or destroyed.

2. Does heat energy always move from hot to cold?

Yes, according to the second law of thermodynamics, heat energy will always spontaneously flow from a higher temperature to a lower temperature until both objects reach thermal equilibrium.

3. Can heat energy be converted into other forms of energy?

Yes, heat energy can be converted into other forms of energy through various processes such as combustion, nuclear reactions, and thermoelectric and photovoltaic effects.

4. Where does heat energy go during phase changes?

During phase changes, such as melting or boiling, heat energy is used to break the intermolecular bonds between particles. This results in an increase in potential energy, rather than a rise in temperature.

5. How does heat energy travel through different materials?

Heat energy can travel through different materials by three main methods: conduction, convection, and radiation. Conduction is the transfer of heat energy through direct contact, convection is the transfer of heat energy through the movement of particles in a fluid, and radiation is the transfer of heat energy through electromagnetic waves.

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