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

16172 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

A man weighing 600N steps on a scale that contains a spring. The spring is compressed 1cm under their weight. Find the force constant of the spring and total work done on its compression.


What is damping in Simple Harmonic Motion?


A passenger is standing in a train. The train accelerates and the passenger falls backwards. Use Newton's first law of motion to explain why he fell backwards.


Two immobile point charges Q1 and Q2 of values +q and +3q respectively are some distance apart. Q3, with value +2q is placed between them and does not move. What is the ratio of the distance between Q3 and Q2 to the distance between Q1 and Q3?


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