Temperature and thermal energy are physical properties; both are the thermodynamic state nature of an object. Yet both the terms imply a very different meaning.
Particles present in a substance moves at different speed particles moving at a slower speed has less kinetic energy (cooler in temperature), whereas particles moving at a faster speed possess more kinetic energy (hotter).
Key Takeaways
- Temperature measures the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance, indicating the degree of hotness or coldness on a specific scale, such as Celsius or Fahrenheit.
- Thermal energy is a substance’s total internal energy, which includes its particles’ kinetic and potential energy and is directly related to the substance’s temperature and mass.
- The main differences between temperature and thermal energy lie in their definitions and measurement, with the temperature being a measure of average kinetic energy and thermal energy representing the total internal energy of a substance.
Temperature vs. Thermal Energy
Temperature is the average kinetic energy of particles in a substance. It is measured using a thermometer or other temperature-sensing device. Thermal energy is the total energy of all particles in a substance and is related to temperature, mass, composition, and external forces.
Temperature measures the average kinetic energy present in the object’s molecules. Thermal energy determines the total kinetic energy of the molecules present in an object.
The quantity of the object is a key factor in determining the amount of thermal energy.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Temperature | Thermal Energy |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | The total internal energy of an object due to the random motion of its particles | Total internal energy of an object due to the random motion of its particles |
| Unit of Measure | Celsius (°C), Kelvin (K), Fahrenheit (°F) | Joule (J) |
| Scalar/Vector | Scalar | Scalar |
| Dependence | Not dependent on the mass or specific heat capacity of an object | Dependent on the mass, temperature, and specific heat capacity of an object |
| Relation to State of Matter | Changes during phase transition without change in thermal energy | Can change without phase transition (e.g., when heating or cooling an object) |
| Transfer Mechanism | Heat transfer by conduction, convection, and radiation | Heat transfer by conduction, convection, and radiation |
| Importance | Indicates the ‘hotness’ or ‘coldness’ of an object | A measure of the average kinetic energy of particles in a system |
What is Temperature?
Temperature is a physical property that signifies how hot or cold a body/object is. It characterizes the average kinetic energy of all the molecules present in an object.
The temperature of an object can be measured with the help of a thermometer. The three systems that help classify the SI temperature unit are- celsius, Kelvin, and Fahrenheit.
Temperature can be linked with two properties hot and cold. The particles present within the object determine it completely.
The speed of each particle in the object depends on how much energy the particles contain. The faster the particles move and the farther apart, the higher the temperature. The slower the particles and the closer they are, the lower the temperature.
In two bodies with different temperatures, when they interact, heat exchange occurs between them, causing the hotter object to cool down and the cooler object to get heated up. Heat exchange constantly occurs, and the exchange only stops when the two objects are at a similar temperature.
Temperature is pivotal in all natural science- physics, chemistry, geology, etc. Hence, the temperature determines any chemical reaction’s speed, scope, and intensity.
What is Thermal Energy?
Thermal energy implies the energy within an object that is responsible for temperature. It is produced when a rise in temperature leads the particles within the object to move faster and collide.
As there is an increase in kinetic energy, the thermal energy of the object increases. Hence the thermal energy of the object increases with the temperature rise.
Thermal energy transfer is noticed when a temperature rise exists in a system of continuous matter. Thermal energy can be transferred through various elements such as conduction, convection, and radiation.
It transfers from the part of the object with a higher temperature to the part with a lower temperature; the process continues until the point where the temperature is equal in all parts.
Main Differences Between Temperature and Thermal Energy
- The average kinetic energy of molecules within an object is called temperature. At the same time, the total kinetic energy within an object is called thermal energy.
- For temperature, the state can vary. It can either be hot or cold, but in the case of thermal energy, the object’s temperature has to be hot.
- Temperature can be measured in three variables: celsius, kinetic, and Fahrenheit, whereas thermal energy can be measured in two variables- joules and calories.
- In the case of temperature, it can further vary when the object interacts with another object of different temperatures, and a flow of molecules occurs, eventually resulting in the temperature of both objects getting the same. In the case of the thermal energy flow of molecules within the object, the object’s temperature is constant throughout.
- Temperature is not dependent on the quantity of the object, whereas thermal energy is determined through the quantity of the object.
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