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Equilibrium means balance or equal. Thermal equilibrium is when two systems have equal temperatures. Mechanical equilibrium is when two systems have equal pressure. In a steam engine, if you stop putting fuel into the furnace, the pressure in the boiler will drop until it reaches mechanical equilibrium with the atmospheric pressure and the water will cool and reach thermal equilibrium with the ambient temperature.

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What are five examples that illustrate mechanical energy being converted to thermal energy?

Friction between moving parts in a machine can convert mechanical energy into thermal energy. When brakes are applied in a moving vehicle, mechanical energy is converted to thermal energy due to friction between the brake pads and the wheels. The act of rubbing your hands together generates heat by converting mechanical energy into thermal energy. Electric heaters convert electrical energy (which is ultimately derived from mechanical energy in power plants) into thermal energy, which in turn heats up a room. When a ball bounces repeatedly on the ground, mechanical energy is gradually dissipated as thermal energy due to internal friction within the ball and between the ball and the ground.


Which type of energy is changed to thermal energy when you rub you hands together?

Mechanical energy is changed to thermal energy when you rub your hands together. The friction created between your hands generates heat due to the conversion of mechanical energy into thermal energy.


How is a rubbing your hands together an example of thermal energy?

When you rub your hands together, friction between your hands creates thermal energy because the kinetic energy of motion is converted into heat. This heat generation is a direct result of the friction between your hands, turning mechanical energy into thermal energy.


What is a motor converts thermal energy to mechanical energy?

A motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical energy is called a heat engine. Heat engines operate by using a temperature difference to generate work, such as a steam engine or an internal combustion engine. The thermal energy is converted into mechanical energy through the expansion of a working fluid.


Is thermal energy ever completely convertible to mechanical energy?

No. You can only convert thermal energy to other types of energy if you have a difference of temperatures between two objects, and then you can only convert part of the thermal energy. The remainder will flow from the hotter object to the colder object.

Related Questions

What are five examples that illustrate mechanical energy being converted to thermal energy?

Friction between moving parts in a machine can convert mechanical energy into thermal energy. When brakes are applied in a moving vehicle, mechanical energy is converted to thermal energy due to friction between the brake pads and the wheels. The act of rubbing your hands together generates heat by converting mechanical energy into thermal energy. Electric heaters convert electrical energy (which is ultimately derived from mechanical energy in power plants) into thermal energy, which in turn heats up a room. When a ball bounces repeatedly on the ground, mechanical energy is gradually dissipated as thermal energy due to internal friction within the ball and between the ball and the ground.


What causes some mechanical energy to change to thermal energy?

Normally, friction between moving surfaces causes mechanical energy to convert to thermal energy (heat), as in the brakes of most cars.


Which type of energy is changed to thermal energy when you rub you hands together?

Mechanical energy is changed to thermal energy when you rub your hands together. The friction created between your hands generates heat due to the conversion of mechanical energy into thermal energy.


Is there a difference between heat energy and thermal energy?

No, the same


How is a rubbing your hands together an example of thermal energy?

When you rub your hands together, friction between your hands creates thermal energy because the kinetic energy of motion is converted into heat. This heat generation is a direct result of the friction between your hands, turning mechanical energy into thermal energy.


What is a motor converts thermal energy to mechanical energy?

A motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical energy is called a heat engine. Heat engines operate by using a temperature difference to generate work, such as a steam engine or an internal combustion engine. The thermal energy is converted into mechanical energy through the expansion of a working fluid.


What is the differece between thermal energy and heat?

Thermal energy is a specific type of energy that all objects have. Heat refers specifically to the TRANSFER of this type of energy. I believe this is similar to the difference between "mechanical energy" and "work" (where "work" refers to the transfer of such energy). However, the two terms are actually often used interchangeably.


Is thermal energy ever completely convertible to mechanical energy?

No. You can only convert thermal energy to other types of energy if you have a difference of temperatures between two objects, and then you can only convert part of the thermal energy. The remainder will flow from the hotter object to the colder object.


Explain the difference between temperature and kinetic energy?

Energy due to temperature is called thermal energy and is measured in Calories or BTU. Kinetic energy is that due to motion of a body and is measured in Joules. There is an equivalence between thermal and mechanical energy, 1 Calorie = 4.2 Joules, 1 BTU = 1055 Joules


How is heat different from thermal energy?

There is no particular difference between heat and thermal energy. Heat is a form of thermal energy. Since thermal energy is energy from heat, heat and thermal energy are basically the same thing.


What type energy is changed to thermal energy when you rub your hands together?

Mechanical energy is changed to thermal energy. This is when you are rubbing your hands together to make heat.


What is the difference between mechanical energy and energy conversion?

Mechanical energy refers to the sum of potential and kinetic energy in a system, while energy conversion is the process of changing one form of energy into another form. Mechanical energy can be converted into other forms like thermal or electrical energy through energy conversion processes.