Chemistry / Unit 4 Chem 0630 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Thermal Energy and Temperature
Captions available
The idea
Thermal energy is the kinetic energy of randomly moving atoms and molecules; temperature measures how hot that motion makes a sample.
In practice
Molecules in hot water move faster on average than molecules in cold water, so the hot sample reads a higher temperature.
Where people slip
Temperature measures motion per particle, never the total thermal energy in a sample, regardless of that sample's size.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
Unlocks
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it · Sources for Chemistry