Final answer:
Temperature measures the average kinetic energy of particles, with the temperature of gases being proportional to their average translational kinetic energy. The Kelvin scale is a commonly used unit of temperature measurement in scientific contexts.
Step-by-step explanation:
Temperature is really a measure of the average kinetic energy of particles. In the context of gases specifically, the temperature of gases is proportional to the average translational kinetic energy of their atoms and molecules. A commonly used unit of temperature measurement in the sciences is the Kelvin (symbolized as K), which is the fundamental unit of temperature in the International System of Units (SI).
In daily life, people often use other temperature scales, such as the Fahrenheit scale (°F) in the United States, where the freezing point of water is 32°F and the boiling point is 212°F. However, in scientific contexts, especially in physics and chemistry, the Kelvin scale is preferred because it starts at absolute zero, the point at which there is no molecular motion according to the kinetic theory of gases.