An analysis of the definition and the meaning used for the terms of heat and thermal energy in the science textbooks

Abstract

In this study, we tried to find out how heat and thermal energy terms are defined and used in Korean science textbooks, and to see if there are any differences in the meaning of these terms used in different areas of science. For this purpose, the contents of 52 science textbooks of elementary, middle and high school published by the 2009 revised curriculum were analyzed. The definition of the term heat is given in the middle school Science ① and the high school Physics I and II textbooks. Most textbooks define heat as “energy transferred due to a temperature difference (Type I)”. Only one textbook of Physics I defines heat as “transfer of energy due to a temperature difference (Type II)”. The definition of thermal energy is mostly presented in the middle school Science ② and the high school Physics I textbooks. Physics I textbooks define the thermal energy as “molecular kinetic energy (Type III)”, while Science ② textbooks define it as Type I or “energy causes temperature change or phase transition of matter (Type IV)”. In the texts of textbooks, heat is mainly used as the meaning of Type I or Type III. Thermal energy is mainly used as Type III, but it is also used as Type I in the high school Physics and Chemistry textbooks. The meanings of heat and thermal energy terms used are differed by the area of science. They are mainly used as type I or type III in Physics and Chemistry textbooks, and used as type III in Life Science and Earth Science textbooks. © 2018 Korean Chemical Society. All Rights Reserved.