Get ready for the NCEA Level 1 Energy Test. Utilize flashcards and multiple choice questions with clear explanations and hints. Prepare for success!

Multiple Choice

Temperature is defined as?

Temperature tells us about how fast the particles in a substance are moving on average; it is a measure of the average kinetic energy of those particles. When temperature increases, the particles’ average kinetic energy goes up, so the substance feels hotter. This is why temperature is not about how much energy is in total (which depends on how much stuff you have), nor about how quickly energy can be transferred (that’s heat transfer), nor about color. The total energy depends on both kinetic and potential energy and on the amount of material, while temperature isolates the average motion of particles.

Temperature tells us about how fast the particles in a substance are moving on average; it is a measure of the average kinetic energy of those particles. When temperature increases, the particles’ average kinetic energy goes up, so the substance feels hotter. This is why temperature is not about how much energy is in total (which depends on how much stuff you have), nor about how quickly energy can be transferred (that’s heat transfer), nor about color. The total energy depends on both kinetic and potential energy and on the amount of material, while temperature isolates the average motion of particles.