Temperature
In short
Temperature is a physical measurement of how hot or cold an object or environment is. It represents the average kinetic energy of the particles within a system.
In plain words
It tells us how much energy the tiny bits inside something have. When particles move very fast, the temperature is high. When they move slowly, the temperature is low.
A simple example
A boiling kettle has a much higher temperature than a glass of ice water. You can see this difference using a thermometer.
Why it matters
It is vital for predicting the weather, cooking food, and keeping humans healthy. Scientists also use it to understand how energy moves through the universe.
Easy to mix up
Do not confuse temperature with heat, which is the total energy transferred between objects.