Which object has the most thermal energy?
a crayon at a temperature of 15°C a crayon at a temperature of 11°C a crayon at a temperature of 8°C
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.
All three crayons have the same mass but different temperatures. Since the 15°C crayon is the hottest, it has the most thermal energy.