Final answer:
Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in matter. Increasing the amount of thermal energy in a sample of matter will cause its temperature to increase, while decreasing the amount of thermal energy will cause its temperature to decrease.
Step-by-step explanation:
Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in matter. When the atoms and molecules in an object are moving or vibrating quickly, they have a higher average kinetic energy (KE), and we say that the object is "hot." When the atoms and molecules are moving slowly, they have lower average KE, and we say that the object is "cold." Assuming that no chemical reaction or phase change occurs, increasing the amount of thermal energy in a sample of matter will cause its temperature to increase. Conversely, decreasing the amount of thermal energy will cause its temperature to decrease.