Thermal energy is the total energy of all the particles within a substance, including both kinetic and potential energy. Heat, on the other hand, is the transfer of thermal energy from a warmer object to a cooler object. In other words, thermal energy is a form of energy, while heat is a process of energy transfer.
Yes, an object can have thermal energy without necessarily transferring heat. For example, a hot cup of coffee has thermal energy because its particles are moving rapidly, but if it is left alone in a room, it will eventually cool down without transferring heat to its surroundings.
There are many examples of substances that have thermal energy without transferring heat. Some common examples include a hot cup of coffee, a pot of boiling water, a heated metal rod, and a warm human body. In all of these cases, the objects have thermal energy because their particles are in motion, but they are not transferring heat to their surroundings.
No, an object cannot have heat without having thermal energy. Heat is a form of energy, so any object that is transferring heat must also have thermal energy. For example, if you hold a hot cup of coffee, the heat from the coffee is transferring to your hand, and your hand will gain thermal energy from the coffee.
Thermal energy can be measured in joules (J) or calories (cal), while heat is typically measured in joules (J) or British Thermal Units (BTUs). The amount of thermal energy an object has is directly related to its temperature, so temperature can also be used as an indirect measure of thermal energy. Heat is usually measured using a thermometer or a calorimeter, which measures the temperature change in a substance due to the transfer of heat.