energy

Question: In detail, what is the difference between kinetic energy
and thermal energy?
marsh
Answer:
Kinetic energy is a general term describing the energy
associated with the motion of objects (large or small objects).
You can calculate the kinetic energy of an object of mass m
with a velocity (speed) v from the formula K.E. = 1/2 mv^2.
Thermal energy refers to the kinetic energy of the microscopic
particles (atoms and molecules) that make up all samples of matter
- i.e. all objects. When you add heat to an object, you increase
the temperature of the object (usually) and that heat increases
the kinetic energy of the molecules that comprise that object.
In fact, temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy
of the microscopic particles that make up an object.
Hope this helps....
Dr. Brown