Internal Energy Revisited

Ch 4, Lesson B, Page 2 - Internal Energy Revisited

• When you think of internal energy, you probably think of vibrational, rotational and translational energies
• These are called “sensible” forms of internal energy because changes in these energies result in changes in the temperature of the substance.  Changes in temperature can be “sensed” by humans.  Hence the name sensible internal energy.
• But, internal energy also includes the energies of molecular and atomic interactions as well as the nuclear binding energies.
• So, what does internal energy have to do with heat ?
• Flip the page and let’s see.