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The total kinetic energy of the particles that make up a system and the potential energy stored in the system because of the interactions between the particles. Thermal energy is dependent on temperature and mass, so a hotter object does not necessarily have more thermal energy. Thermal energy also depends on a substances' physical state (state of matter). When all the other conditions are the same, substances in the form of a gas will have the highest thermal energy, followed by substances in the form of a liquid, and substances in the form of a solid will have the least thermal energy. So, for example, if you had steam and water with the same mass and temperature, the steam would have more thermal energy.

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Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy (speed) of particles of matter. Hotter objects have higher average kinetic energy and therefore higher temperature, while cold objects tend to have lower average kinetic energy and colder temperatures.

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The transfer of energy caused by the circulation of matter due to differences in density.

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Heat transfer caused by the collisions of particles of matter that are in direct contact. The fast moving particles from the warmer object collide with the slower moving particles from the cooler object, which transfers heat. As they collide, the slower moving particle speeds up and the faster particle slows down a bit until the objects are the same temperature (thermal equilibrium).

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This type of heat transfer occurs in fluids (gases and liquids)

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Conduction most often occurs in solids.

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The transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves. Radiation does not require matter to transfer thermal energy.

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Heat transfer by radiation does not require a medium, which is how the sun's rays can heat the Earth.

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Heat is the movement/exchange of thermal energy between objects due to a temperature difference. Heat always travels from warmer objects to less warm objects until the two reach the same temperature (thermal equilibrium).

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When two objects that are touching have the same average thermal energy, or the same temperature.

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Heat transfer is a form of energy transfer that involves heat moving from one location to another. It occurs any time there is a difference in temperature, and heat goes from warmer objects to cooler objects.

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There are three different types of heat transfer:
- Conduction
- Convection
- Radiation

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Heat Transfer - Conduction, Convection, and Radiation

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Welcome to CK-12 Foundation | CK-12 Foundation

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Heat always transfers from warmer places to colder places.

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An egg will cook on a hot pan because the pan will heat up the egg through direct contact.

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Convection occurs through the movement of currents called convection currents. Since warmer fluids are less dense than cooler fluids, the warmer fluids will rise. As the warmer fluids move away, cooler fluids take its place, creating a circulation motion called convection currents.

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A hot air balloon filling up due to the the fire inside causing convection currents.

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An egg sitting in the sunlight will be heated by the suns rays, because the sun releases waves that carry energy. The heat energy from the sun is transferred to the egg when its EM waves hit it.

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Cold is not actually real. Cold is simply an absense of heat.

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An ice cube sitting outside on a hot surface will eventually melt into water. The heat travels from the hot surface into the ice cube, making the particles move faster until eventually it changes states.

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For example, a swimming pool heated to 80 degrees Fahrenheit would have more thermal energy than a cup of boiling hot water. This is because while the individual particles are moving faster in the cup of water, the swimming pool has more particles and therefore more total kinetic energy since more particles are moving.

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Which Has More Energy an Iceberg or a Cup of Coffee

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Objects achieve thermal equilibrium through heat transfer. When two objects are in contact with each other, the warmer one will transfer heat to the less warm one, causing the warmer object to lower in temperature and the cooler one to increase, until the two objects both reach the same temperature. This state of reaching the same temperature is called thermal equilibrium.

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Another example is your hand warming up when you put it next to a fire. The heat from the fire is being transferred sideways towards your hand by electromagnetic waves even though you are not in direct contact and there is no air flow affecting it.

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In this series of games, your students will learn about the relationship between thermal energy and temperature, and how temperature is measured. The Temperature, Thermal Energy, and Particle Motion learning objective - based on NGSS and state standards - delivers improved student engagement and academic performance in your classroom, as demonstrated by research.

Scroll down for a preview of this learning objective's games and the concepts they drive home.

Concepts Covered

Temperature measures the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance. Thermal energy measures the total kinetic energy of the particles in a substance. The greater the motion of particles, the higher a substance's temperature and thermal energy.

A substance's total thermal energy depends on its temperature, number of atoms, and physical state. More atoms and higher temperature mean more thermal energy. If all other conditions are the same, substances in gas form have the most thermal energy, followed by liquids, then solids.

Temperature can be measured with a thermometer. The matter inside a thermometer expands as its particles gain thermal energy and move. There are three scales for quantifying temperature:

Degrees Fahrenheit (℉)

Degrees Celsius (℃)

Kelvins (K)

Scientists can also measure temperature based on the color of light an object gives off. This is useful if an object is far away, or if it is too hot to touch.

A preview of each game in the learning objective is found below.

You can access all of the games on Legends of Learning for free, forever, with a teacher account. A free teacher account also allows you to create playlists of games and assignments for students and track class progress. Sign up for free today!

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Temperature, Thermal Energy, and Particle Motion Science Games | Legends of Learning

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In this series of games, your students will learn about the relationship between thermal energy and temperature, and how temperature is measured. The Temperature, Thermal Energy, and Particle Motion learning objective - based on NGSS and state standards - delivers improved student engagement and academic performance in your classroom, as demonstrated by research.

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Radiation occurs in all states of matter.

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The kinetic energy of the atoms in a material.

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What thermal energy is and how it relates to temperature and mass.