Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Heat refers to the transfer of thermal energy between objects or systems due to a temperature difference. It is the flow of energy from a warmer object to a cooler object.
Related terms
Joules: Joules are units used to measure energy. In the context of heat, joules represent the amount of thermal energy transferred.
Q: Q is often used as a symbol for heat in equations. It represents the amount of thermal energy transferred during a process.
Temperature: Temperature is a measure of how hot or cold an object or system is. It determines the direction and rate at which heat flows between objects.