Difference Between Heat and Temperature

In Physics, we come across terms like heat energy, thermal energy and temperature. These are all different forms of energy. Heat is the flow of energy whereas temperature is the measure of the thermal energy stored in a body. This is one of the main differences between heat and temperature. Heat is the total of the molecular motions inside an object. Temperature is the measure of the average heat of the molecules in an object. 

Let us understand these terms and the difference between them in detail.

Difference Between Heat and Temperature

The difference between Heat and Temperature are tabulated below.

Heat	Temperature
It is a form of energy.	It is the thermal state of a physical body.
It can flow from one body to another.	It is a parameter measurement of a body so it does not flow.
Total amount of heat in a body can only be measured during its flow.	Temperature of a body can be measured.
It does not depend on the amount of heat present in the bodies.	Temperature decides whether there will be any heat flow or not.
It is a process between two matters.	It is the fundamental property of a matter.
It is a path function.	It is a state function.

What is Heat?

Heat is defined as the transfer of energy from a high-temperature body to a lower-temperature one. It is also described as energy in transit because it only occurs when there is a temperature difference between two systems. Heat energy is present everywhere and moreover, most people’s everyday activities involve heat. Heat energy does not flow when the temperature between two objects is equal.

A few heat energy examples are given below.

• The sun radiates electromagnetic waves which travel through outer space and reaches the Earth’s atmosphere. This is responsible for heating the planet and enabling life to thrive.
• In cars conversion of fuel involves heat energy. Here, gasoline burns and turns into chemical energy, which then turns into heat energy. Without heat energy, it would be impossible for automobiles to function.

In the above image the Heat Energy between the Sun and the Earth is displayed.

S.I. Unit of Heat

The S.I. unit of heat is the joule (J), but it can also be measured in calories (Cal). The two units are related by the following conversion factor:

1 calorie = 4.186 joules

Heat Energy Formula

The formula for Heat Energy is expressed as

,

Heat Energy is denoted by Q.

Where C is the specific heat capacity of the body,

m is the mass of the body, and

is the temperature difference

Heat Transfer

Heat transfer is the movement of thermal energy between objects or systems. It is the transfer of energy between a body of higher temperature and another body of lower temperature. Heat transfer can occur by three different mechanisms: conduction, convection, and radiation.

The quantity of heat transferred is directly proportional to the mass of the system i.e., higher the mass of the substance, the more heat is required. It is directly proportional to the temperature of the body i.e., the higher the increase in temperature, the larger the heat that needs to be added. Lastly, the amount of heat is also dependent on the type of substance and its phase.

What is Temperature?

Temperature is defined as the measure of hotness or coldness expressed in terms of any of several arbitrary scales. It indicates the direction in which heat energy will spontaneously flow. In other words, it tells which body is at a higher temperature and which one is at a lower temperature. Temperature is not equivalent to the energy of a body.

Temperature scales are how we communicate about weather, measure safety and comfort and explain the heat of the physical world. It is measured with a tool called a thermometer. Using the baselines chosen by scientists to create relative measurements, temperature scales measure the heat intensity or the amount of heat energy contained in a material or substance. There are three commonly used measurement scales: Celsius, Fahrenheit and Kelvin.

In the above image all three temperature measurement scales are shown.

S.I. Unit of Temperature

The Celsius scale is represented as °C while the Fahrenheit scale is represented as °F. Similarly, the Kelvin scale is represented with the letter K like the temperature of ice is 273K. Although all three scales are widely used, the S.I. unit for temperature is Kelvin.

These scales are interchangeable with each other. We can use the below-mentioned formula to convert from one scale to another.

• [Fahrenheit to Celsius]
• [Celsius to Fahrenheit]
• [Celsius to Kelvin]
• [Kelvin to Celsius]

If we want to convert temperature from Kelvin to Fahrenheit or vice versa, then first we convert it into Celsius through the above given formula, then we again convert it into the required scale.

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