In physics, thermal energy is the internal energy present in a system due to its temperature. The internal energy is the energy of all the particles in a system, including the kinetic energy of their motion and the potential energy of their interactions. Thermal energy always flows from a hotter system to a colder one.
In classical mechanics, thermal energy is a measure of the random kinetic energy of the particles in a system. The kinetic energy is the energy of motion of the particles, and is determined by their velocity. The randomness comes from the fact that the particles are in different states of motion, and so their kinetic energies will be different. The total thermal energy of a system is the sum of the kinetic energies of all the particles in the system.
In quantum mechanics, thermal energy is a measure of the average energy of the particles in a system. The average energy is determined by the temperature of the system. The thermal energy of a system is the sum of the energies of all the particles in the system divided by the number of particles in the system.
Thermal energy is important in many areas of physics. In thermodynamics, it is a measure of the amount of energy that can be converted into work. In statistical mechanics, it is a measure of the disorder of a system. In condensed matter physics, it is a measure of the strength of the interactions between the particles in a system.
Other related questions:
Q: What is thermal energy equal to in physics?
A: Thermal energy is the energy that is associated with the random motion of particles in a substance.
Q: What is the formula for thermal energy?
A: The formula for thermal energy is:
E = mc^2
where:
E = thermal energy
m = mass
c = speed of light
Q: What formula is Q MC ∆ T?
A: Q = MC∆T
Q: What is the unit for thermal energy?
A: The unit of thermal energy is the joule.