Which object has less thermal energy?
a 3-kilogram block of iron at a temperature of 275°F a 3-kilogram block of iron at a temperature of 270°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 slow down, the temperature goes down. The matter now has both less thermal energy and a lower temperature.
The two blocks of iron have the same mass but different temperatures. Since the 270°F block is colder than the 275°F block, it has less thermal energy.