What is the difference between heat and temperature?

Here's a breakdown of the difference between heat and temperature:

• Temperature: Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles (atoms or molecules) in a substance. It indicates how hot or cold something is relative to a standard. Temperature is typically measured in degrees Celsius (°C), Fahrenheit (°F), or Kelvin (K). It's a scalar quantity, meaning it has magnitude but no direction.

• Heat: Heat is the transfer of energy between objects or systems due to a temperature difference. It is the energy that flows from a hotter object to a colder object. Heat is a form of energy, and it is measured in Joules (J) or calories (cal). Heat is a process and not a property of a substance.

Key Differences Summarized:

• Nature: Temperature is a measure of average kinetic energy; heat is energy in transit.
• Measurement: Temperature is measured in degrees (°C, °F, K); heat is measured in Joules or calories.
• State vs. Process: Temperature is a property of a system; heat is a process that occurs due to a temperature difference.
• Direction: Heat always flows from higher temperature to lower temperature. Temperature itself doesn't have a direction.

Analogy:

Think of a glass of water. The temperature is like the average speed of the water molecules bouncing around. Heat is like pouring more energy (hot water) into the glass, causing the molecules to move faster and increasing the temperature.