Which object has more thermal energy?
a bowl of oatmeal at a temperature of 105°F a bowl of oatmeal at a temperature of 75°F
The objects are identical except for their temperatures.
All solids, liquids, and gases are made of matter. Matter is made up of tiny particles that are always moving. The energy from the motion of these particles is called thermal energy.
Temperature measures how hot or cold matter is. If the particles in matter move faster, the temperature goes up. The matter now has both more thermal energy and a higher temperature.
The two bowls of oatmeal have the same mass but different temperatures. Since the 105°F bowl of oatmeal is hotter than the 75°F bowl of oatmeal, it has more thermal energy.