The degree or intensity of heat present in a substance or object, especially as expressed according to a comparative scale and shown by a thermometer or perceived by touch, is described by which term?

• A. Temperature
• B. Thermal Energy
• C. Temperature
• D. Heat

Answer: (C)

Temperature is the degree or intensity of heat that a substance has, expressed on a scale (like Celsius, Fahrenheit, or Kelvin) and shown by a thermometer or perceived when we touch it. It reflects the average kinetic energy of the particles in the material—the more vigorous their motion, the higher the temperature feels. This is what we measure with a thermometer or sense as hot or cold, rather than the energy that flows between objects (that energy transfer is called heat) or the total energy contained in the substance (thermal energy). Since the description highlights both a measurable scale and a perceptible sense of hotness or coldness, temperature is the term that fits best.