What’s the difference between Heat and Temperature?
Topics Covered: heat, temperature
Heat. Temperature. We hear these words every day. But are they interchangeable?
If we say something is hotter… does that mean it has more heat? More temperature?
It’s confusing... right? But don’t worry, after reading this post, you will be able to distinguish the difference between heat and temperature at a scientific level.
Let’s talk about temperature first. Temperature is the average amount of kinetic energy that the particles have. In other words, how fast the particles of the object are moving, on average; so temperature only depends on the speed of the particles. Temperature is also an intensive property, which means it is mass independent. No matter how much amount you have, the object will have the same temperature: a big tub of water can have the same temperature as the small cup of the water, as long as the particles are moving at the same average speed!
On the other hand, heat is the transfer of thermal energy that flows from hotter to colder substances. It is measured in J (Joules). While temperature only depends on the speed of the particles, heat depends on both the speed AND the mass (quantity) of particles.
Think of it this way. Pretend you have a large bucket of water at 50 degrees and a cup of water at 100 degrees Celsius. Which has a greater temperature? Obviously the cup. Now, say you have a bucket of cold water and you want to make it warmer by pouring the water inside of either a cup or a bucket. Which would you pour in, cup or bucket? Bucket, right? Although the bucket has lesser temperature, it has a greater mass so a greater amount of heat (temperature + mass) can transfer from the bucket of hot water to a bucket of cold water.
In short, temperature only depends on the speed while heat depends on both the speed and mass of the particles!
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