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Question
What is the difference between thermal energy and kinetic energy?
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Solution
I have 2 definitions of thermal energy that I normally remember.
1) Thermal energy is the portion of energy of a moleucle that is propertional to its temperature
2) thermal energy is energy that can be transferred as heat in a disordered fashion by contact between molecules.
I think of kinetic energy as being the translational, rotational and vibrational energy of a molecule.
Kinetic energy can be transferred as heat by collisions amongmolecules. However thermal energy must include some other energy than just kinetic energy otherwise it wouldn't have a separate name would it :
1) Thermal energy is the portion of energy of a moleucle that is propertional to its temperature
2) thermal energy is energy that can be transferred as heat in a disordered fashion by contact between molecules.
I think of kinetic energy as being the translational, rotational and vibrational energy of a molecule.
Kinetic energy can be transferred as heat by collisions amongmolecules. However thermal energy must include some other energy than just kinetic energy otherwise it wouldn't have a separate name would it :
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