What is the difference between thermal and internal energy?

According to many sources, internal energy is the kinetic and potential energies of molecules of a substance - combined. Some sources also say that thermal energy is that definition.





However, I don't think that thermal energy is kinetic and potential energy combined. I know that heat transfer occurs between a region with higher temperature and a region with lower temperature, but it isn't necessarily the case with two regions of different internal energies. So that seems to imply to me that temperature is a measurement of thermal energy - so in that sense thermal energy is merely the average kinetic energy of molecules and as such, doesn't include the potential energy. Is that right?





Thanks (:|||Yes, that is correct.





Temperature is a measure of molecular kinetic energy. If you think of the conditions at absolute zero, 0 K (or -273 C) all molecular vibration stops, i.e. all kinetic energy goes to zero.





Potential energy is energy stored in the molecular structure that can be released under a given condition. Example, explosive compounds have high potential energy. Under safe handling, room temperature conditions, the thermal kinetic energy will be the same as the lab table top. The combined internal energy is the kinetic plus potential energy.|||Thermal is outside energy, or the energy that the internal energy is giving out. Have you ever used a thermal scope? Or thermal sniper scope? You can see everyones heat and the environments heat.|||Are you joking ?


Jk


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