What is the difference between temperature and heat? Heat is the average kinetic energy of the particles in a system, and temperature is the energy that transfers from one object to another due to a difference in heat. Temperature is the average kinetic energy of the particles in a system, and heat is the energy that transfers from one object to another due to a difference in temperature. Heat is the total kinetic energy of a system, and temperature is the energy that transfers from one object to another due to a difference in heat. Temperature is the total kinetic energy of a system, and heat is the energy that transfers from one object to another due to a difference in temperature.