Temperature measures the degree of hotness or coldness of a body or substance. More precisely, it quantifies the average kinetic energy of the particles (atoms or molecules) that make up the substance, reflecting how fast these particles are moving or vibrating
. It is an intensive physical property, meaning it does not depend on the amount of matter present but rather on the energy state of the particles
. Temperature indicates the direction of heat transfer, which naturally flows from a hotter body (higher temperature) to a colder one (lower temperature)
. Temperature is measured using thermometers calibrated to various scales, the most common being Celsius (°C), Fahrenheit (°F), and Kelvin (K). The Kelvin scale is the absolute temperature scale used in scientific contexts, starting at absolute zero, the theoretical point where particle motion ceases
. In summary, temperature measures the average kinetic energy of particles in a substance, which corresponds to how hot or cold the substance is
