Question

Thermal energy is a energy due to:
(A) Kinetic energy of molecules
(B) Potential energy of molecules
(C) Both (A) and (B)
(D) None

Answer 1

Hint:We know that Thermal energy (also called heat energy) is produced when a rise in temperature causes atoms and molecules to move faster and collide with each other. The energy that comes from the temperature of the heated substance is called thermal energy. Thermal potential energy is potential energy at the atomic and molecular levels, where it has the potential of becoming kinetic energy or related forms of energy. Common types of thermal potential energy are chemical bonds, electrostatic forces, and nuclear bonds. The kinetic energy (KE) of an object is the energy that it possesses due to its motion. It is defined as the work needed to accelerate a body of a given mass from rest to its stated velocity. Having gained this energy during its acceleration, the body maintains this kinetic energy unless its speed changes.

Complete step by step answer
We know that,
Thermal energy is due to both the kinetic and potential energy of molecules.
Kinetic energy is due to random motion of molecules and its velocity. Potential energy is due to position, composition and arrangement of molecules.

Hence, we can conclude that the correct answer is Option C.

Note We know that kinetic energy, a form of energy that an object or a particle has by reason of its motion. If work, which transfers energy, is done on an object by applying a net force, the object speeds up and thereby gains kinetic energy. Kinetic energy is the energy an object has because of its motion. If we want to accelerate an object, then we must apply a force. Applying a force requires us to do work. Kinetic energy can be transferred between objects and transformed into other kinds of energy. Among the characteristics of kinetic energy, the following can be mentioned: It is produced by the movement of a body. It increases with speed. It is higher as the mass of the body that produces it is greater.