Chapter U5.4, Problem 1TAI

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: The difference between temperature and heat needs to be explained.

Concept Introduction: Heat transfer happens between two substances that are in touch with each other until there is no longer a temperature difference between them. The path of heat transfer is always from a hotter substance to a colder one.

Answer to Problem 1TAI

The main difference between heat and temperature is that heat deals with thermal energy while temperature is more concerned with molecular kinetic energy.

Explanation of Solution

A substance’s temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of its particles. Heat is a process of energy transfer to or from a sample of matter. Thermal energy is a term usually used to explain the “energy content” of a sample. The thermal energy of a sample depends on the number of particles in a sample, whereas temperature is the same regardless of the size of the sample. The energy transferred is termed as heat.

Conclusion

Temperature and heat are different, although they are both related to the motion of atoms and molecules. Heat is not determined directly by an instrument while temperature is determined by a thermometer.