What does temperature measure in a substance?

Temperature measures the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance. This means that temperature provides an indication of how fast the particles are moving on average. As the temperature increases, the average speed of the particles also increases, which corresponds to an increase in their kinetic energy. This relationship helps us understand why substances expand when heated and relate temperature to thermal energy transfer.

In contrast, the total energy of particles encompasses both kinetic and potential energy, so it does not accurately reflect the specific measurement of temperature. The minimum energy of particles does not provide an adequate representation of the motion or behavior of particles within a substance at a given temperature. Additionally, potential energy specifically relates to the position of particles and their interactions, which is not what temperature quantifies. Thus, the definition of temperature aligns precisely with the average kinetic energy of the particles.