What is temperature?
Temperature tells us how hot or cold something is. It is like a feeling for things — not for people only. We can say a cup of tea is hot, ice is cold, and a sunny day can be warm.
How can you think about it?
Imagine everything is made of very tiny, tiny pieces called particles (you can think of them like invisible marbles). When the particles move fast, the thing feels hot. When the particles move slowly, the thing feels cold.
Easy examples
- Ice feels cold because its particles move slowly.
- Warm soup feels hot because its particles move quickly.
- The sun makes things warm because it helps the particles move faster.
How do we measure temperature?
We use a tool called a thermometer. It shows numbers called degrees. Grown-ups often talk about degrees Celsius (we write °C). For example, ice is about 0°C (zero degrees), and a warm bath might be around 37°C.
Try a safe experiment (ask an adult to help)
- Put one hand near (not on) a warm cup and the other hand near a cold cup or some ice. Which hand feels warmer?
- Touch a warm blanket and a cold tile. Which is warmer?
Safety tip
Always ask an adult before touching very hot things (like stoves, kettles, or boiling water). Hot things can burn you.
That re temperature! It helps us know if things are hot, warm, or cold.