Mendeleev · science lesson
Temperature: what a thermometer really measures
Temperature is tied to the thermal state of a system, not simply to a vague idea of ‘amount of heat’.
Start with the idea
Temperature is tied to the thermal state of a system, not simply to a vague idea of ‘amount of heat’.
A concrete example
Two objects at the same temperature can contain very different amounts of internal energy.
Mendeleev
Mendeleev’s tip
Do not start with a formula. Identify what changes, what stays constant and which quantity you are trying to explain or calculate.
Go one step deeper
A small metal object at 100 °C and a bathtub at 40 °C illustrate why temperature and total internal energy are not synonyms.
Common trap
A trend or model is not an exceptionless law. Always check the quantity’s definition and the conditions being compared.
Check your understanding
Can you explain the phenomenon in your own words before looking at an equation?