•
•Thermal energy is
“kinetic energy” of moving
atoms and molecules
–Hot
material energy has more energy available which can be used
for
•Chemical
reactions
•Nuclear
reactions (at very high temperature)
•Escape
of gasses from planetary atmospheres
•Creation
of light
–Collision
bumps electron up to higher energy orbit
–It
emits extra energy as light when it drops back down
to lower energy orbit
–(Reverse
can happen in absorption of light)