Temperature
Also known as: T
A measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance, determining how hot or cold it is. Determines the direction of heat flow — heat always moves from higher temperature to lower temperature.
💡 Intuition
How 'hot' or 'cold' something is—how fast its molecules are moving on average.
Core Idea
Temperature is about average energy per particle, not total energy.
🔬 Example
🎯 Why It Matters
Determines the direction of heat flow — heat always moves from higher temperature to lower temperature.
⚠️ Common Confusion
A large cold object can have more thermal energy than a small hot object.
Related Concepts
Next Steps
How Temperature Connects to Other Ideas
Once you have a solid grasp of temperature, you can move on to thermal energy and heat transfer.
Go Deeper
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Temperature in Physics?
A measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance, determining how hot or cold it is.
Why is Temperature important?
Determines the direction of heat flow — heat always moves from higher temperature to lower temperature.
What do students usually get wrong about Temperature?
A large cold object can have more thermal energy than a small hot object.
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