Definition of Thermal Energy

It is known as thermal energy To that energy released as heat, that is, it manifests itself via heat, it passes from a warmer body to another that presents a temperature less. It can be transformed into both electrical energy as in mechanical energy.

The type of energy that is released in the form of heat. Process

When two bodies come into contact, one hot and the other rather cold, it is noticeable that the coldest one will heat up, and vice versa, which is that the one that is hotter will tend to cool down. The cause of this is found in the fact that heat is appreciated in relation to the movement of the particles that make up the object in question.

The movement of the particles of that hot object will progressively stop while the body that is cold will have an inverse effect. We must emphasize that these changes are perceptible on a microscopic level.

How to obtain this energy?

This type of energy can be obtained from different situations or circumstances such as... from nature, from the sun, from a

exothermic reaction, such is the case of the combustion of some type of fuel.

Another way to obtain thermal energy is through a nuclear reaction, either fission (when the nuclear reaction takes place in the atomic nucleus) or fusion (several atomic nuclei that have a similar charge join to give rise to a nucleus much more heavy; is accompanied by the release of a large amount of energy).

Likewise, another way to obtain this type of energy is by what is known as the Joule effect, a phenomenon in which when a conductor circulates electric currentPart of the kinetic energy of the electrons will be transformed into heat as a consequence of the collisions they suffer with the atoms of the conductive material through which they circulate.

On the other hand, it is also possible to take advantage of the energy of nature that is in the form of thermal energy, such is the case of the geothermal energy (the energy that is achieved by taking advantage of the internal heat of the planet earth) and Photovoltaic Solar Energy (electricity renewable obtained directly from the sun's rays).

Direct relationship with work

This type of energy has a direct relationship with work and productivity in this area. Since the Industrial Revolution, where the use and strength of machines was imposed, it was essential for human beings to achieve energy sources that maintain full power. economic activity. So it was essential to search for other alternatives for caloric energy and then translate it into electrical energy.

The energy provided by the sun is one of the most precious and best options, but of course, there is still a lot to be done. become a profitable option due to the high cost of panel development today photovoltaic.

In any case, on our planet it is the energy from the sun, the most important thermal energy that impacts it and that allows life to continue to develop.

Contamination

It should be noted that obtaining thermal energy will always cause a environmental impact, because combustion releases carbon dioxide and highly polluting emissions.

This modification that is generated in the temperature, reaching certainly high levels is absolutely harmful to people's lives. Human beings can be affected by this type of contamination through two elements that we need elementally to live such as water and air.

At present, this type of pollution has become a global problem and is the main cause of the warming that our planet is suffering and that makes us witness the most unprecedented climatic phenomena, which in most cases appear abruptly and leave tremendous leaps in terms of material destruction and victims human.

Topics in Thermal Energy