thermal capacity noun (physics)

The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a system through one degree

thermal conductivity noun (physics)

A measure of the rate of flow of thermal energy through a material in the presence of a temperature gradient

thermal conductor noun

A material that allows the flow of heat through it by conduction

thermal diffusion noun (physics)

A process in which a temperature gradient in a mixture of fluids tends to establish a concentration gradient

thermal dissociation noun

The splitting of certain molecules into simpler molecules by heat, followed by recombination on cooling

thermal efficiency noun (engineering)

(of a heat engine) the ratio of the work done by the engine to the mechanical equivalent of the heat supplied in the steam or fuel

thermal imaging noun

The visualization of objects, substances, etc by detecting and processing the infrared energy they emit, used in medical thermography and to locate bodies underground

thermal neutron noun (physics)

A neutron of very low speed and hence very low energy, responsible for various types of nuclear reaction, incl fission

thermal noise noun (electronics)

Noise arising from random movements of electrons in conductors and semiconductors, limiting the sensitivity of electronic amplifiers and detectors

thermal printer noun (computing)

An old form of dot matrix printer using heated pins to fix images on heat-sensitive paper

thermal reactor noun

A nuclear reactor in which fission is induced mainly by low-energy neutrons

thermal shock noun

Stress, often resulting in fracture, occurring when a body is subjected to sudden changes in temperature

thermal signature noun

The characteristic appearance of a substance or object when viewed with thermal-imaging equipment

thermal springs plural noun

Natural springs of hot water