What is the difference between internal energy, temperature, and heat?

Internal energy, temperature, and heat are closely related but distinct concepts. The microscopic particles that make up a body are in constant motion and may exert forces on each other. As such, they each possess some kinetic and potential energy, which summed together give the body's internal energy. Because the internal energy of a body increases the more particles it has, we define the temperature of a body as the mean internal energy of its particles, which means that our measure how hot or cold a body is does not depend on its size. Finally, heat is the energy transferred between two bodies due to their temperature difference, and it always flows from hot to cold. Bodies themselves do not have "heat", only internal energy; it only makes sense to use "heat" when energy transfer occurs between two bodies due to a temperature difference.

SK
Answered by Sotirios K. Physics tutor

16202 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

How come nuclei become more unstable the bigger they are?


A car is travelling at 10m/s when it brakes and decelerates at 2ms^-2 to a stop. How long does the car take to stop?


Two trains are heading in opposite directions on the same track. Train X has a mass of 16000kg and a speed of 2.8m/s. Train Y has a mass of 12000kg and a speed of 3.1m/s. At what speed do the joined trains move off together immediately after the collison?


Why is the sky blue?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning