20 Physics -- Heat and Temperature

explain the molecular concept of thermal energy

explain the molecular concept of thermal energy

Thermal energy is the energy that is associated with the movement of molecules. At the molecular level, thermal energy is the energy that is associated with the vibrational, rotational, and translational motion of molecules.

All molecules are in constant motion due to the heat energy they possess. The faster the molecules are moving, the higher the temperature of the substance. The energy of these molecular movements increases with temperature. When a substance is heated, the energy of the molecular movements increases, leading to an increase in the temperature of the substance. 

Thermal energy is related to the temperature of a substance, but it is not the same thing as temperature. Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the molecules in a substance. The kinetic energy of a molecule is the energy it possesses due to its motion. The average kinetic energy of the molecules in a substance increases as the temperature of the substance increases.

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