Multiple choice

Temperature is a measure of ___________.

  1. total kinetic energy of molecules

  2. total potential energy of molecules

  3. average potential energy of molecules

  4. average kinetic energy of molecules
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A Correct answer
Explanation

Temperature is a measure of the average heat or thermal energy of the particles in a substance. Since it is an average measurement, it does not depend on the number of particles in an object. In that sense it does not depend on the size of it. For example, the temperature of a small cup of boiling water is the same as the temperature of a large pot of boiling water. Even if the large pot is much bigger than the cup and has millions and millions more water molecules.

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