Which object has more thermal energy?
a 5-kilogram brick at a temperature of 260°F a 5-kilogram brick at a temperature of 235°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 bricks have the same mass but different temperatures. Since the 260°F brick is hotter than the 235°F brick, it has more thermal energy.