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Thermal Energy Transfer Demonstration
Submitted by: Norman M.
*Lesson plan was adapted from GSC International, Inc. https://gosciencecrazy.com
Recommended Grade Level(s):
Appropriate for: 6–12
Time Requirements:
Prep Time: 5 mins
Activity Time: 60–90 minutes
Teaching Topics & Concepts:
• Thermal Energy Transfer, Energy Transformations, Electricity, Properties of Materials, Engineering
National Science Standards Alignment
NGSS (partial coverage):
• 4-PS3-2: Energy Transfer. Make observations to provide evidence that energy can be transferred from place to place by sound,
light, heat, and electric currents. (Energy and Matter)
• MS-PS3-4: Thermal Energy Transfer. Plan an investigation to determine the relationships among the energy transferred, the
type of matter, the mass, and the change in the average kinetic energy of the particles as measured by the temperature of the
sample. (Scale, Proportion, and Quantity)
• HS-PS3-3: Energy Conversion Device Design. Design, build, and refine a device that works within given constraints to convert
one form of energy into another form of energy. (Energy and Matter)
TEKS:
• 6.8B describe how energy is conserved through transfers and transformations in systems such as electrical circuits, food webs,
amusement park rides, and photosynthesis.
Introduction:
Thermoelectricity involves the direct conversion of heat to electricity and vice versa, using
conductors and semiconductors. Such materials can produce electricity when subjected to a
temperature gradient or create a temperature difference when an electric current is applied.
These phenomena weren't discovered in our modern computer age; they have been known
for over 200 years. Recently however, they have found important uses in a wide range of
sectors like power production, thermal management, and temperature sensing technologies.
Seebeck Effect
The Seebeck effect is named after Thomas Johann Seebeck, a German physicist who discov-
ered it in 1821. Seebeck observed that when he formed a closed loop with two distinct met-
als and placed one junction at a higher temperature than the other, a magnetic needle near
the circuit would deflect, indicating the presence of an electric current. In other words, the
temperature difference between two different conductors generates a voltage difference and producing an electrical current.
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