What is the difference between heat and temperature?
Heat and temperature are related but different concepts in thermodynamics.
Heat refers to the transfer of energy between two objects or systems due to a temperature difference. It is the energy in transit, flowing from a region of higher temperature to a region of lower temperature. Heat occurs through three mechanisms: conduction (transfer of heat through direct contact), convection (transfer of heat through the movement of fluids), and radiation (transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves).
Temperature, on the other hand, is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance or system. It is an indication of how hot or cold an object is relative to a reference point (such as the Celsius or Kelvin scale). Temperature determines the direction of heat flow, as heat naturally flows from a higher temperature to a lower temperature until thermal equilibrium is reached.
In summary, heat is the transfer of energy, while temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of particles.