Abeka Science Matter and Energy Test 7 Practice 2026 – Master Your Exam with the Complete Study Guide!

Thermal energy is the total kinetic energy of the particles in a substance. The particles are always moving and colliding, and the sum of all that microscopic motion stores energy as heat. When you add heat, the particles move faster, so the thermal energy increases. This idea applies to solids, liquids, and gases alike, not just gases. It isn’t the energy stored in chemical bonds (that’s chemical energy), and it isn’t the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature by one degree (that describes heat capacity or specific heat).