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Question

What is the difference between heat and temperature? Does one cause the other?

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Solution

The heat of an object is the aggregate energy of all molecular movement inside the object. A form of energy that is transmitted from one object or source to another due to the differences in their temperature. It moves from a hotter object to the cooler one.

Temperature is defined as the average kinetic energy of all molecules together, i.e. average energy of all the particles in an object. As an average measurement, the temperature of a substance does not rely on its size (number of particles) and type. It identifies how hot or cold an object is, in degrees. It also measures, the speed of atoms and molecules of the substance.
Key Differences Between Heat and Temperature

The differences between heat and temperature can be drawn clearly on the following grounds:

  1. Heat is nothing but the amount of energy in a body. As against this, temperature is something that measures the intensity of heat.
  2. Heat measures both kinetic and potential energy contained by molecules in an object. On the other hand, temperature measures average kinetic energy of molecules in substance.
  3. The main feature of heat is that it travels from hotter region to cooler region. Unlike temperature, which rises when heated and falls when cooled.
  4. Heat possesses the ability to work, but the temperature is used exclusively to gauge the extent of heat.
  5. The standard unit of measurement of heat is Joules, while that of temperature is Kelvin, but it can also be measured in Celsius and Fahrenheit.
  6. Calorimeter is a device, which is used to measure the heat. On the other hand, temperature can be measured by thermometer.
  7. Heat is represented by ‘Q’ whereas ‘T’ is used to represent temperature.
Conclusion

Both heat and temperature are the concepts of thermodynamics; that works together to let the energy flow from hotter body to the cooler body. While heat depends on the number of particles in an object, temperature does not depend on a number of particles in an object because it is an average measurement.

Hope this helps :)

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