Temperature is closely linked to the motion of atoms in an object: They always move or wiggle around a bit, randomly bumping into each other. In a cold object they move slower, in a hot object they move faster. What happens if the two touch each other? Some fast atoms will collide with slow atoms and transfer some of their energy, just like a fast football (or golf ball, baseball, …) can speed up another football it hits. Wait a while and the energy gets spread evenly: The cold object heated up and the hot object cooled down.
Latest Answers