Question

Temperature is a measure of ____ of the particles in an object.

the difference between the potential and kinetic energy

the sum of the potential and kinetic energy

the average potential energy

the average kinetic energy

Answer 1

Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in an object.

Step-by-step explanation:

The temperature is a magnitude referred to the common notions of heat measurable by means of a thermometer. In physics, it is defined as a scalar magnitude related to the internal energy of a thermodynamic system, defined by the zero principle of thermodynamics. More specifically, it is directly related to the part of the internal energy known as kinetic energy, which is the energy associated with the movements of the system particles, either in a translational, rotational sense, or in the form of vibrations. As the kinetic energy of a system increases, it is observed that it is "hotter"; that is, its temperature is higher.

Answer 2

Temperature is related to the speed of the moving molecules within a sample. These two are directly proportional to each other. Since speed or movement of molecules is related to kinetic energy only, not potential energy, then the answer to this problem is D. the average kinetic energy