Can thermal energy be converted into mechanical energy and when heat transfers into a system is the energy stored as heat?
The answer to your first question is Yes. This is what engines are doing, for example Stirling engine.
For the second question: It depends on the system. For example, thermoelectric generators (TEG) transform heat into electricity.
Hi Rk Naresh and all.
By definition, thermal energy (or heat) and work are forms of energy that exist only in transit between material bodies. When a body absorbs heat or work, its internal energy increases: atoms vibrate more intensely, molecules travel faster, the frequency of molecule-molecule collisions increases etc. For instance, hot gases from gasoline combustion in internal combustion engines, transfer heat to the cylinder block and heat and work to the piston. As a consequence, the cylinder block and piston heat up but the piston also moves: the hot gases exert work (force x distance) on the piston. Thus, part of the hot gas energy (not the heat transferred) is transformed in kinetic energy (mechanical energy) of the piston, ultimately enabling the engine to move a vehicle.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Papers