Which of the following statements about temperature is true?

• A. Temperature depends on the amount of substance present.
• B. Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance.
• C. Temperature is measured in joules.
• D. Temperature measures the total energy contained in a substance.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of temperature: Temperature is a physical quantity that reflects how hot or cold a substance is, and it is related to the motion of particles within that substance.
2. Recall that temperature is specifically a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance, not the total energy or the amount of substance present.
3. Recognize that kinetic energy of particles is given by the formula \(KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2\), where \(m\) is mass and \(v\) is velocity, and temperature correlates with the average of this energy across all particles.
4. Note that temperature is typically measured in units such as degrees Celsius (°C), Kelvin (K), or Fahrenheit (°F), but not in joules, which is a unit of energy.
5. Conclude that the true statement is: 'Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance.'