Question

Which of the following is not a form of energy?
(A). Heat
(B). Light
(C). Temperature
(D). Electricity

Answer 1

Hint: Different forms of energy are interconvertible between each other. This is the main criterion for being a form of energy. If a physical quantity can be converted into another form of energy, then it is also regarded as a form of energy. This is illustrated in the statement that energy can neither be created nor destroyed but only changed from one form to another.

Complete step by step answer:

Energy is the ability to do work. Work can be done in many forms including mechanical work, electrical work, etc. Therefore, energy is also of many forms. The different forms of energy can be converted between one another through suitable means and machines.
For a physical quantity to be considered as a form of energy, it is necessary that it has the ability to do work and also be converted into other forms of energy by the help of suitable machines. This is the main requirement for a physical quantity to be defined as a form of energy.
This property of interconvertibility between different forms of energy is expressed in the statement “Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, but only be changed from one form to another” which is the principle of conservation of energy.
For example, in an incandescent light bulb, electrical energy (electricity) is converted into heat energy (the filament becomes hot) and the heat energy is converted into light energy (the filament starts glowing).
Temperature is a measure of how hot or cold an object is. It is the measurement of the intensity of heat energy present in a body. Therefore, it is not a form of energy, but a measure of the intensity of one.
Hence, the correct option is C) Temperature.

Note: Students might think that electricity means electric current which has got to do with charge flowing through a conductor and thus it is not a form of energy. Moreover, they may think that temperature defines how hot an object is, so it must be another form of heat energy. However, both these thinking lines are wrong. One must remember that electricity is the most predominant form of energy which is being used everywhere, from fans to lights to do work. Also, as explained above temperature is not a form of energy, but helps us to measure the intensity of one.