Which best describes the relationship between heat, internal energy, and thermal energy?

Question

Internal energy is heat that flows, and heat is the part of thermal energy that can be transferred.
Internal energy is thermal energy that flows, and thermal energy is the part of heat that can be transferred.
Thermal energy is heat that flows, and heat is the part of internal energy that can be transferred.
Heat is thermal energy that flows, and thermal energy is the part of internal energy that can be transferred.

Answer 1

The correct description of the relationship between heat, internal energy, and thermal energy is:

Heat is thermal energy that flows, and thermal energy is the part of internal energy that can be transferred.

In this context:

• Internal Energy refers to the total energy contained within a system, which includes all the microscopic motions and interactions of particles.
• Thermal Energy is the portion of internal energy that is associated with the temperature of the system and can be transferred between systems.
• Heat specifically refers to the transfer of thermal energy between systems or bodies due to a temperature difference.

Thus, heat is not the energy itself but the energy in transit, while thermal energy is a component of internal energy related to the random motions of particles.