As a domain expert in the field of thermodynamics, I'd like to clarify the distinction between thermal energy and heat. The concept of thermal energy and heat are often used interchangeably, but they are fundamentally different in the context of physics and thermodynamics.

Thermal Energy is the total internal energy of a system due to the kinetic and potential energies of its molecules. It is an inherent property of matter and is not dependent on the transfer of energy. Thermal energy is associated with the temperature of an object, and it includes all the microscopic motion and interactions within the system. It is a state function, which means it depends only on the current state of the system and not on the path taken to reach that state.

Heat, in contrast, is the transfer of thermal energy from one body to another due to a temperature difference. It is a process quantity, not a property of the system. Heat flows from a higher temperature body to a lower temperature body until thermal equilibrium is reached. Unlike thermal energy, heat is not a state function but a path function, meaning its value depends on the specific process that occurs.

The process of heat transfer can occur through conduction, convection, or radiation. In conduction, heat is transferred through direct contact between materials. Convection involves the movement of heat through the bulk movement of fluids. Radiation is the transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves, such as sunlight.

It's important to note that while thermal energy is a measure of the energy contained within a system, heat is a measure of the energy that has been transferred. The unit of measurement for both is typically the same, such as joules in the International System of Units (SI), but the context in which they are used is what fundamentally differentiates them.

In summary, thermal energy is the energy contained within a system due to the motion and interactions of its molecules, while heat is the energy in transit from one system to another due to a temperature difference.

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The difference between heat and thermal energy is that thermal energy is not in the process of being transferred; it is not in transit, but remains as part of the internal energy of the system; heat, on the other hand, is energy in transit, i.e. energy in the process of being transferred from a hotter system towards .. ...read more >>