What is the difference between heat and temperature? Between work and energy? Between kinetic energy and potential energy?

Heat is the transfer of thermal energy between systems or objects with different temperatures, while temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance. Heat flows from hotter to cooler areas until thermal equilibrium is reached, whereas temperature quantifies how hot or cold an object is, typically measured in degrees Celsius or Kelvin.

Work is the process of energy transfer that occurs when a force is applied to an object, causing it to move. Energy, on the other hand, is the capacity to do work or produce heat. While energy can exist in various forms (kinetic, potential, thermal, etc.), work specifically refers to the transfer of energy through mechanical means, such as lifting an object against gravity.

Kinetic energy is the energy of an object due to its motion, calculated as one-half the mass of the object multiplied by the square of its velocity (KE = 1/2 mv²). In contrast, potential energy is the stored energy of an object based on its position or configuration, such as gravitational potential energy, which depends on the object's height above a reference point. Both forms of energy are interchangeable, as energy can be converted from one form to another.