Question

what is the key difference between temperature and thermal energy?
thermal energy tells us how hot or cold an object is, while temperature does not.
fast-moving particles cause high thermal energy but low temperature.
temperature depends on mass and state of matter, while thermal energy does not.
temperature measures average kinetic energy, while thermal energy is the total kinetic energy.

Explanation:

Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance, so it does not depend on the amount of matter. Thermal energy is the total kinetic energy of all the particles in a substance, so it depends on the mass (amount of matter) and state of the substance. The other options are incorrect: the first reverses their roles, the second is a false scenario, and the third incorrectly states their dependencies.

Answer:

D. Temperature measures average kinetic energy, while thermal energy is the total kinetic energy.