Why heat always moves toward the cold

Science · Published 29 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Understand the fundamental mechanics of energy transfer. This video explains how temperature relates to particle motion and why heat flows in a specific direction when objects meet.

Heat exchange is driven by the kinetic energy of particles within a substance. Temperature serves as the measurement for this average kinetic energy. When two objects come into contact, collisions between their respective particles facilitate the transfer of energy from the warmer object to the colder one.

By visualizing these microscopic interactions, you can better understand why thermal equilibrium occurs and how energy redistributes across different materials.

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