Which of the following factors affect the thermal energy of a substance?

• A. Type of container used
• B. Pressure and volume only
• C. Color and shape of the substance
• D. Temperature and mass of the substance

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that thermal energy is the total kinetic energy of all the particles in a substance, which depends primarily on how fast the particles are moving and how many particles there are.
2. Recall that temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles, so as temperature increases, the thermal energy increases.
3. Recognize that mass relates to the number of particles in the substance; more mass means more particles contributing to the total thermal energy.
4. Note that factors like the type of container, pressure, volume, color, and shape do not directly affect the total thermal energy, although they may influence other properties.
5. Conclude that the thermal energy of a substance depends mainly on its temperature and mass, as these determine the total kinetic energy of the particles.