Temperature and Heat: A Quick Guide

Temperature is a measure of how hot or cold something is. It tells us about the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance. Higher temperature means particles are moving faster.

Heat is a form of energy that flows from a hotter object to a colder object. It's the total kinetic energy of all the particles in a substance.

Key Points:

Temperature is measured in degrees, such as Celsius (°C), Fahrenheit (°F), or Kelvin (K).

Heat is measured in joules (J).

Heat makes temperature change. Adding heat to something usually makes it hotter, while removing heat makes it colder.

Temperature doesn't depend on the size of an object, while heat does. A small, hot object can have less heat than a large, cold object.

Let's explore some real-world examples:

A hot cup of coffee and a cold glass of water: The coffee has a higher temperature than the water, so heat flows from the coffee to the water until they reach the same temperature.

A warm blanket: The blanket traps heat from your body, keeping you warm.

Ice melting: Heat from the environment is absorbed by the ice, causing it to melt.

Remember: Temperature and heat are related, but they're not the same thing!